Dr. Laura Alicia Valdiviezo Arista dedicated her life to expanding educational opportunity, advancing social justice, and celebrating the cultural and linguistic richness that students bring to the classroom. A beloved professor, mentor, scholar, and community leader, Laura's work transformed the lives of countless students, educators, and families around the world.

To honor her extraordinary legacy, The Laura Valdiviezo Teacher's Fund has been established to support graduate students in the Department of Teacher Education & Curriculum Studies at the UMass Amherst College of Education, with preference given to students with experience working with multilingual learners.

Your gift will help future educators continue the work that defined Laura's life—creating inclusive learning environments, uplifting diverse voices, and ensuring that all students are valued, seen, and supported.

A Life Dedicated to Educational Equity

Born in Lima, Peru, Laura brought her Quechua, African, and Hispanic heritage into every aspect of her teaching, research, and service. Fluent in Spanish, Quechua, Portuguese, and Italian, she believed deeply in the power of language, culture, and education to build understanding across communities.

Since joining the UMass Amherst College of Education in 2007, Laura served as a professor, department chair, director of the Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies, Chancellor's Leadership Fellow, and mentor to generations of students and colleagues. Her scholarship and advocacy, including many publications as well as presentations and lectures at home and internationally, focused on bilingual and intercultural education, indigenous knowledge, language policy, and social justice.

Laura's research, leadership, and community engagement reflected her conviction that schools can be spaces of transformation—places where linguistic diversity is celebrated, equity is advanced, and students are empowered to thrive. She inspired educators to embrace critical thinking, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to justice in their classrooms and communities.

Investing in the Educators Laura Inspired

Throughout her career, Laura was known not only for her scholarly accomplishments but also for her generosity, humility, and unwavering dedication to her students. She welcomed students into her home, mentored emerging scholars, and cultivated a sense of belonging for those pursuing careers in education.

This scholarship fund will help ensure that her commitment to future educators continues for generations to come.

By supporting graduate students who share Laura's passion for multilingual education and educational equity, donors can help prepare teachers and leaders who will make a meaningful difference in students' and communities' lives for generations to come.

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Make a Gift in Laura's Memory

A gift to the Laura Valdiviezo Teacher's Fund is a powerful way to honor Laura's life, values, and enduring impact.

We know that even small actions of many people can create meaningful change. We also know that together, our gifts, small and large, can carry forward her vision of a more just, inclusive, and culturally affirming educational future.

Please consider making a gift today to support the next generation of educators inspired by Dr. Laura Alicia Valdiviezo Arista's remarkable legacy.

Note: Our objective is to establish an endowed scholarship, and therefore gifts will be directed to a pre-endowment fund. If we do not achieve the minimum threshold to endow ($25K) the scholarship will be distributed for a term of years rather than in perpetuity.