Aguilar receives award for contributions in law, education

While attending NMSU, Marcela Sanchez Aguilar ’97 says her favorite courses were government and criminal justice, though her family mainly consisted of New Mexico educators. She went on to graduate from the University of Michigan Law School in 2001 and eventually combined her family legacy and favorite subjects into a successful career as an attorney based in Chicago.

In spring 2025, Aguilar was recognized for her contributions as chief attorney for the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Chicago regional office. She was given the University of Michigan Law School’s J.T. Canales Award, which honors a University of Michigan Law School alum who has worked to improve the lives of Latinos. She has spent the last 15 years enforcing civil rights in educational institutions.

“I knew that while our Constitution strives to treat everyone as equal under the law, in reality some people face challenges and difficulties unique to their circumstances. I wanted to become a lawyer to help people and ensure they receive equal rights and opportunities,” Aguilar says.

She says her motivation to ensure all students receive a fair education was instilled in her at an early age.

“Education is the great equalizer. It is the foundation to success in life, regardless what path you choose,” Aguilar says. “Because I know first-hand that there can be obstacles in the Latino community to access education and continue in higher education, I knew it was important to focus on my community. A lot of people still have stereotypes in their minds as to what types of jobs Latinos usually hold and I wanted to spend my career changing those minds and letting future generations of Latinos know that they truly can be and do anything they set their minds to.”

Aguilar comes from a long line of Aggies. Her mom, Josephine Sanchez ’88 ’07, sisters, Melissa Galaz ’97 ’08, Maricela Galaz ’03 ’08 and brother, Robert J. Sanchez ’01 are NMSU graduates.

Aside from her career success, Aguilar calls her family her “pride and joy.” Her husband, Matt Aguilar, is a former sports reporter for the El Paso Times and has spent the last 17 years as the media relations manager for the Chicago Housing Authority. The couple has three children, Abbie, Abe and Mandy.

José Tomás “J.T.” Canales was a University of Michigan Law School graduate who later became a Texas legislator, advocate for Mexican American Texans, and a major founder of the League of United Latin American Citizens. He died in 1976.