Heishly Acevedo Ramírez

Specialty: Bilingual Journalism Program

Areas of interest: Editing, bilingualism, investigative reporting, second language acquisition, colonization, and Latin American studies

Undergrad Degree: B.A. in Comparative Literature and a Minor in Writing and Communications in English, University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus, 2021

Hometown: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Background/goals: Before coming to Tucson, I admit that I didn’t really have experience in journalism. However, I wished to pursue this degree and challenged myself to new experiences. I believe that my love and knowledge for both written and non-written texts that I acquired in my childhood and education can help me when it comes to this field. Admittedly, I also think that gaining new wisdom in different fields will help me in future career opportunities. Future career aspirations of mine include that of a professor, an editor, a journalist, or a translator. Nonetheless, no matter what I end up becoming, my goal is to serve my Hispanic community somehow (whether it is through an entertainment or educational path) and utilize my bilingual and storytelling skills.

Why UA: I chose UA because if I was going to move from my country, I still wanted to be surrounded by Hispanic culture. Due to Arizona’s close proximity with the border and the mix of cultures all around, I have obtained new joy and knowledge in my personal, academic, and professional life. However, admittedly, the UA was the only grad school to offer me employment in order for me to pursue my studies. Lastly, the staff/faculty also drove me to accept their offer, since they had been so kind and hands-on since the beginning of my application process.