Nancy Michel Campos CordovaGraduate Studentshe/her/hers

I am an Indigenous woman from the Kichwa Otavalo community of northern Ecuador. Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Science in Human Ecology. I hold a bachelor’s degree in business engineering from my home country, where my thesis project addressed the social metabolism, livelihoods, and artisanal activities of the Kichwa Otavalo people. I have experience conducting research with the ToBe Research Project, where I analyzed international policies for sustainable economies, and over five years of experience as a volunteer and co-founder of the Kichwa Institute of Science Technology and Humanities Foundation on projects relating to education, language preservation, and equal rights for Indigenous communities.

My personal, academic, and professional experiences have shaped my goals for pursuing a master’s degree through which I hope to bring to light the social and community dynamics that occur in Indigenous communities, and how these intersect with themes of youth leadership, access to education, environmental sustainability, human rights, and equity.