ISU student using life experiences to affect US immigration policy

Feb 12, 2020

Maria B. Alcívar-Zúñiga moved to the United States from Ecuador when she was 11 years old. Living with just her mother and brother in a small one-bedroom apartment, Alcívar-Zúñiga struggled to adjust to life in America. But she worked hard to learn the language and succeed in school. That eventually led her to Iowa State, where she double majored in women's studies and international studies. In the meantime, she's worked with local immigration organizations in the community, and was recently honored with the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award. Now a PhD student in Human Development and Family Studies, Alcívar-Zúñiga wants to continue her focus on improving and educating people on immigration policy.