Dear Linguist List friends,

My name is María Lucero Guillén Puón, I am an editor for the Linguist List, I review, edit and post book issues on our website.

I started my graduate studies last year in the Hamilton Lugar School at Indiana University. I am originally from Mexico City where I did my undergraduate studies in Administration at one of the most prestigious universities in Latin America, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

When I was a student I got sponsored as an exchange student in Colombia and in the US. These experiences made me appreciate the interculturalities and differences between countries. When I returned to Mexico after those exchanges I was certain that I wanted to pursue a master degree abroad, so I started getting prepared to apply and created a portfolio attractive to US higher education institutions, I even won a scholarship from FUNED, a Mexican NGO that provides educational support to pursue a master's degrees abroad, they paid for various courses and standardized tests necessary to apply to a graduate program in the US and they also provided mentorship and assistance during the application process.

When I finished my undergraduate studies, I started working for the Indiana University Mexico Gateway, first as program assistant and then as program coordinator. In these roles I organized many academic events that allowed faculty, students and staff to create meaningful connections with Mexican and Latino American institutions. During this time I coordinated various seminars and workshops related to indigenous languages like Quechua, Nahuatl, Zapotec and Guaraní, and collaborated with organizations like Mozilla Foundation, the Mexican National Museum of Popular Cultures and the Mexican Ministry of Culture, among others. By working with these organizations, I strengthened, developed and transmitted values and culture of small Mexican towns with rich ethnicity diversity and traditions. With this background, I was really excited to see that Dr.Tyers was going to teach a Nahuatl class this spring, so I am currently enrolled in that course.

I am particularly proud of these accomplishments, because even though I was born in Mexico City, my family is from a small town in Chiapas, a state in the southern part of Mexico near the border of Guatemala. I also lived there when I was a child for a couple of years, this allowed me to understand and develop a more empathic perspective towards indigenous communities.

Working for the Linguist List allows me to focus on my studies without having the burden on my shoulders for worrying about financial loans. Without this job opportunity I would not be able to continue studying because graduate education in the US is very expensive. If The Linguist List hadn’t employed me I would not have been able to come to IU to pursue my graduate studies.

You have no idea how much your donations have changed my life here in the US. They have allowed me to be able to pursue my dream to study my graduate studies and be able to afford my living expenses. In addition, because I am also adapting to the new life alone here in the US, your donation not only provides me financial support, it also has a great effect on my mental health. I am truly grateful for the Linguist List, and I do my job there happily every day, because this job allows me to continue with my dream of getting a master degree.

Please continue supporting the Linguist List staff, you are making a great difference in our lives. Thank you so much for reading.

Lucero
Maria Lucero Guillen Puon