Rajiv Rao Awarded Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship
Photo Credit: Professor Rajiv Rao
We are proud to share that Professor Rajiv Rao, Editor-in-Chief of the Heritage Language Journal, has been named a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, one of the institution’s highest honors. This prestigious appointment recognizes faculty whose scholarship has advanced the boundaries of knowledge while demonstrating excellence in teaching and service. Dr. Rao’s work integrates theoretical phonology with language pedagogy, experimental linguistics, and sociolinguistic identity, and he is widely regarded as a leading scholar in heritage linguistics and Spanish studies. He has authored and co-edited multiple volumes, published extensively in top scholarly venues, and is a deeply committed mentor to students at all levels. We are especially honored to celebrate this achievement by a colleague whose intellectual rigor is matched by humility, generosity, and a gift for making others feel valued.