Allison Palacios Rivera

Allison Palacios Rivera of El Salvador is an English professor and the exchange program coordinator at Gerardo Barrios University, where she also serves as project manager for the international internships’ office. Ms. Palacios Rivera has been proficient in Sign Language since childhood and often volunteers as an interpreter at her university, local courthouses, and churches.

Ms. Palacios Rivera earned her bachelor’s degree in English education from Gerardo University in El Salvador. While completing her undergraduate degree, Ms. Palacios Rivera was selected for a scholarship by the American Embassy and Student Achievement and Success Program. This scholarship placed her in Minnesota, where she worked as a language ambassador and teacher assistant for an academic year. Currently, she is working towards a master’s in intervention and learning difficulties from the University Institute of Psychological Studies (Universidad Instituto Superior de Estudios Psicológicos) in Spain and a second master’s in education from the American University of Europe (Universidad Americana de Europa) in Mexico, both through academic scholarships.

Ms. Palacios Rivera will use her fellowship to learn from American schools specializing in inclusivity for students with special needs to improve her knowledge of practices and strategies. She hopes to return to El Salvador with a better understanding of differentiated learning in the classroom to better prepare students with neurodiverse abilities and their future teachers.