The AATSP Robert G. Mead, Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award is given to an AATSP member in recognition of outstanding leadership within in the profession as a whole and of scholarly contributions to the profession.

The 2016 recipient of the Robert G. Mead Distinguished Leadership Award is Eduardo Zayas-Bazán; Professor Emeritus; East Tennessee State University; Johnson City, Tennessee. 

Dr. Eduardo Zayas-Bazán is a distinguished scholar and educator with an extensive and exemplary record of leadership. He has been a devoted member of the AATSP since first joining in 1965. Through the years he has held numerous leadership positions within the Association including member of the Executive Council from 1986-1988 and President of the AATSP in 1985.  He also served as chair of several AATSP committees and as a member of the Editorial Board of Hispania from 1994-1998. In addtion, Eduardo has served in leadership positions in other language-related organizations.

Eduardo Zayas-Bazán has published numerous articles, book chapters, and educational materials on diverse topics. He has authored or co-authored some twenty books including one historical novel. He is widely known for his highly acclaimed college-level Spanish textbooks ¡Arriba! and Conexiones that have aided countless teachers and reached large numbers of students learning Spanish throughout the United States.  

Eduardo also has had extrarodinary success as a teacher and study-abroad leader. A former student who met Eduardo during a study-abroad experience in Spain stated that, "It goes without saying that on that trip, Eduardo was inspirational in changing my life’s course and influential in my continuing to study Spanish and become a Spanish teacher.” 

Since Eduardo’s arrival in the United States, he has been a leader in many Cuban-American events and organizations including serving as President of the National Association of Cuban American Educators. A colleage explained that "Dr. Zayas-Bazán embodies the spirit of the Cuban-American community in Miami and even in the United States.”

In summary, Eduardo is a gifted, compassionate, student-centered leader whose talents have served AATSP, teachers and students of Spanish and the larger profession for more than fifty years.