2001 › Michael A. Olivas
23rd Farfel Recipient
Institute for Higher Education Law and
Governance
William B. Bates Professor of Law
Law Center
Michael A. Olivas, the William B. Bates
Professor of Law and founder/director of the UH Law Center’s
Institute for Higher Education Law and Governance, is humbled by
his Farfel recognition. “I’m really honored to be in
the company of such distinguished faculty. It’s a demanding
job, but to be able to do this kind of work with students and the
community -- I can’t imagine a better life.”
Olivas is a leading expert on higher education
law and has recently completed a second term as general counsel
of the American Association of University Professors. A prolific
scholar, he has been a member of the prestigious American Law Institute
since 1986. He has served three times as chair of the Law and Education
Section of the AALS and was on the editorial board of the Journal
of College and University Law. His editorial activities include
work for twenty-seven journals.
During his nineteen years of service at
UH, Olivas received this year’s Ethel M. Baker Faculty Award and
is the recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award of the American
Educational Research Association and the Research Achievement Award
of the Association for the Study of Higher Education.
Olivas takes pride in the accomplishments
of his former students. Three of them are on the UH faculty, and
another six have been elected to the Texas Legislature. “I
believe that nurturing young professionals, especially young professors,
is the highest calling and the most rewarding vocation,” he
says. “I am at the stage of my career where I am more delighted
at my students’ achievements than I am at my own. It isn’t
even a close call. When they get published, get elected to judicial
or legislative office, start a law firm, start a family, win an
important case, I feel very fulfilled.”
A native of New Mexico, Olivas has secured
more than $5 million in grants from various foundations. His most
recent work involves efforts to help undocumented immigrants obtain
access to Texas colleges and universities. “Professors get
a unique opportunity to pursue truth and have the independence that
you don’t have in most professions,” Olivas says. “I’m
happy I’ve been able to strike a chord and do some positive
things for people.”
“Education is truly our society’s
engine of upward mobility,” he says.
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