Recently, the Association for Community Organization and Social Action announced that New Mexico Highlands University Facundo Valdez School of Social Work Master’s student Ruth Riley was selected as a recipient of the organization’s Outstanding Student Award
The Association for Community Organization and Social Action (ACOSA) Outstanding Student Award is a national honor recognizing BSW and MSW students who demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment to community organizing, social action, social justice, and macro-level social work practice. Because ACOSA is a national organization affiliated with the macro practice community within social work, receiving this award indicates that a student's contributions have been recognized beyond their own university. For social work academics and practitioners, particularly those committed to macro practice, this is generally viewed as a highly meaningful national student honor. The award is often presented in conjunction with major professional social work gatherings and ACOSA recognition events. Ruth's efforts will be recognized at the national Council of Social Work Education Conference in October 2026.
Ruth’s selection reflects her outstanding leadership, scholarship, community engagement, and commitment to creating spaces that center belonging, community, interconnectedness, and social justice.
Since fall 2025, Ruth has led the Center for Excellence in Social Work’s Social Justice Teach-in series, creating learning opportunities that bring together students, faculty, practitioners, and community members. Through her leadership, these conversations have addressed issues ranging from disrupting systems of oppression and radical self- and collective care to culture as medicine, recovery, and mental wellness.
Ruth has also shared her knowledge and experiences through presentations at social work, behavioral health, recovery, and Indigenous education events, including the New Mexico Social Work Education Summit and the 2026 NASW-NM Conference. Her work extends beyond the classroom through community artmaking, student leadership, coalition building, and her involvement in emerging social work student networks.
As a student and emerging social work professional, Ruth has demonstrated the power of bringing lived experience, scholarship, creativity, and community connection into social work practice. She has become a powerful student voice within her cohort, across New Mexico’s social work education community, and within the broader social work profession.