Lina Palancares

College Access Coach

Hello everyone/Hola a todxs! My name is Lina Palancares (she/her/ella), I am from Naucalpan, Estado de Mexico. My family and I moved to Atlanta when I was 10 years old. I attended Duke University where I majored in International Comparative Studies, with a certificate in Civic Engagement and Social Change and a minor in French. I recently completed my Masters in Anthropology from the University of Chicago where my research focused on Spanish language and its influence on Latinx identity. In my free time I love cooking, painting, embroidering, and listening to podcasts. I am a big fan of standup comedy and Broadway musicals! All of the jobs and internships I have taken part in have had at the forefront a desire to create a more equitable and inclusive world. While at Duke, I was very involved with Student Action with Farmworkers, completing 4 of their programs. The year after I graduated from Duke, I participated in an Americorps program, College Advising Corps (CAC), where I worked closely with high school seniors in an advising capacity. The goal of the program was to increase the number of underrepresented groups in higher education. I worked with students facing unique challenges, with students who did not see college as a place that was meant for them because no one else in their families had ever attended college. Along with the counseling team, I worked to find opportunities for our first-generation students, for our undocumented and DACA students, for our homeless and foster youth students, and for our students with special needs. I worked alongside with students to figure out their best possible educational path, keeping in mind the available opportunities. This job taught me that high achieving, brilliant students can come from any path in life. I am looking forward to supporting LatinxEd students as they embark on this new and exciting journey!