Miguel Garcia-Salas, a doctoral student in the School of Communication Science and Disorders (SCSD) and the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) has been named one of the International Literacy Association’s (ILA) 30 Under 30 Literacy Champions, an honor recognizing rising leaders in literacy education worldwide.
Garcia-Salas credits this honor to his collaboration across disciplines and community engagement that defined his academic and professional journey.
“SCSD and FCRR emphasized the importance of engaging with diverse perspectives outside of communication science and disorders,” Garcia-Salas said. “This approach allowed me to form meaningful relationships with organizations like the Office of Migrant Education, enriching my understanding of the contextual factors influencing early literacy and language development in vulnerable communities.”
His road to this recognition was not without its challenges. Closing gaps between disciplines and meeting the needs of underserved populations required innovation and perseverance, inspiring Garcia-Salas to build partnerships and create solutions tailored to each community’s strengths and challenges.
“This recognition inspires me to strengthen collaborations with speech-language pathologists, educators, and families, and to advocate for equitable literacy initiatives,” he shared. “It also drives my pursuit of research that addresses gaps in literacy access, ensuring a meaningful and lasting impact in the field.”
Garcia-Salas hopes to contribute to the ILA’s mission of “literacy for every child, everywhere” by creating equitable, family-centered resources. He aims to create scalable interventions that build on community strengths, break down barriers to early literacy, and empower families to ensure every child has the tools to be successful.
As a rising leader in the field, Garcia-Salas offered advice to young educators and researchers aspiring to make a similar impact: “Focus on building genuine, long-lasting relationships with children, families, and organizations. Avoid rushing into solutions without collaboration, as meaningful partnerships are the foundation of sustainable literacy advocacy.”