Coconino County Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez receives an honorary doctorate degree on behalf of his late father NAU Professor Miguel Vasquez. Photos courtesy Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council Chair Patricia Garcia.
Editor’s note — Information courtesy of the Northern Arizona University story — “NAU to recognize four Arizona leaders with honorary doctorate degrees during commencement ceremonies.”
FLAGSTAFF — Miguel Vasquez, a former Northern Arizona University professor of anthropology, was recognized with honorary doctorates during a commencement ceremony held on May 9, 2025.
Vasquez, who died last year after a long career of advocacy and education in Coconino County, was represented on stage by his son, NAU alumnus and Coconino County Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez.
“NAU’s honorary doctorate recipients are all Arizonans whose careers are exemplary and who have demonstrated a tireless commitment to the public good, especially in advancing educational access, excellence, and attainment for the people of our state,” NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera stated in the story. “They truly reflect NAU’s values, and I look forward to honoring their achievements and celebrating the accomplishments of the more than 5,700 graduates who will be awarded degrees at our commencement ceremonies.”
Dr. Miguel L. Vasquez was a visionary cultural leader, educator and advocate for cross-cultural understanding. As a professor of anthropology at Northern Arizona University for over 35 years, he dedicated his career to working with Latino, Native American, African American and Southeast Asian refugee communities across Mesoamerica and the United States. He earned the NAU President’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the Community Luminary Award from the State of Black Arizona as well serving as an applied cultural anthropologist with the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office and the Third Mesa community of Bacavi to restore garden terraces, fostering cultural and environmental sustainability. Vasquez was a founding member of the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council, serving as chair from 2006-2011. Beyond academia, he served on numerous boards, including the International Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, Friends of Flagstaff’s Future, and the Museum of Northern Arizona. He was also elected to the Flagstaff Unified School District Governing Board. Upon his death in October 2024, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved a proclamation, “Celebrating and Honoring the Life of Dr. Miguel Vasquez.”
