Alma Flor Ada is professor Emerita at University of San Francisco. Dr. Ada is an international award-winning author of over 200 books for young readers, and a leading mentor and philosopher of bilingual education in the United States. The University of Loyola Marymount University has created the Alma Flor Ada for Social Justice Award. She is the recipient of the Pura Belpré Award, Christopher Award, and Virginia Hamilton Award, among others.