Clayton State Professor Dr. Rosario Vickery Was Awarded State Professor of the Year for Spanish Language Education
(July 15, 2026) - Dr. Rosario Vickery has been named 2026 Professor of the Year by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Georgia Chapter (aatsp-ga.org). Since its inception in 1917, the AATSP has promoted the study and teaching of Hispanic, Luzo-Brazilian, and other related languages, literatures, and cultures at all levels.
Dr. Vickery has taught both French and Spanish in her career as an educator but has focused on teaching Spanish. She has a PhD in Romance Languages from the University of Georgia in Athens. After she gave a presentation for a course she was taking her sophomore year in college, the instructor suggested she consider a career as a college professor, and she has since shared her love of language and culture with students who share her enthusiasm for learning.
Being selected as Professor of the Year is a great honor for a teacher like Dr. Vickery, who is very passionate about her work and understands how she impacts the lives of her students. About hearing the news that she was named Professor of the Year, she said, “I was very happy and honored. It feels good to be recognized for what we do. I really love teaching. I love the profession and the students. What I really like is to encourage agency on the part of the students and awareness. I believe that knowing languages and cultures fosters both agency and awareness.”
When she was in college, she initially didn’t consider majoring in Spanish. She shared that “I always thought it would be exciting to learn French, since my grandmother knew French and received beautiful French magazines that I admired as a child. Also, I grew up in Southern Louisiana, where many folks spoke French. So, I decided to major in French in college. My sophomore year, I received a summer study-abroad scholarship from CODOFL (The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana) and that was an amazing experience.”
She decided to add a second Major, Spanish. “While I was in college, professors learned that I spoke Spanish, and they encouraged me to take Spanish courses. I came to the United States as a child and continued to speak Spanish at home with my family. I had no idea the value of Spanish at home had for me! I tested out of lower-level and intermediate courses; received those credits by exam; and immediately placed into the advanced level. As a result, I was able to have a double major of French and Spanish. I included courses for teacher certification, grades 7-12 in my curriculum, so I could work immediately upon graduation and start repaying college loans.”
Since Dr. Vickery joined Clayton State University in 2012, she has felt at home and appreciated as a member of Laker Nation. She said, “I love the support we get at Clayton State, and all my colleagues. The students really want to learn. I feel that students at Clayton State really want to learn something that may help them and give them an edge in the job market. And so, they really work hard at learning something they feel would be worthwhile, and Spanish is something they found is useful.”
Getting her students involved in the community is another way that Dr. Vickery tries to immerse students in Spanish culture. She shared one example of this approach, saying, “I included a community service project in my course on children's literature in Spanish. We had class on campus, and students volunteered at a Clayton County Library. For the community service project, students helped at the library, and they led a bilingual story hour for children side by side with a professional librarian. At the conclusion of the project, the library employed a student.”
If you have the opportunity to meet Dr. Vickery on campus or take one of her classes at Clayton State, the first thing you will realize is that she has held on to the same passion for language and learning she had as a college student. She shared her secret to success in her career by saying, “I love teaching. I love a student-centered approach. I love to adapt to the diverse needs and interests of students, meet them where they are, help them grow, and become great leaders. I love to encourage agency and give them opportunities that they not only remember but introduce them to what they can also continue enjoying in the future.”