MAYA LOPEZ

My name is Maya Lopez, and I am a junior at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where I am pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a focus on Management. As a proud first-generation college student and the daughter of a Spanish-speaking Latina woman and small business owner, my passion for business stems from personal experience. I have witnessed firsthand the challenges underrepresented voices face in the business world, which fuels my commitment to empowering and supporting these communities.

I am honored to participate in the IES UTSA P20 Pathways to Education Research Training Program, funded by IES, where I am exploring the connection in research between education and business. My primary research interests center on the experiences of Latina women business owners, especially first-generation Spanish-speaking women, and their journey in acquiring essential business skills like math, accounting, and marketing.

I am particularly interested in understanding the barriers these women face, whether due to language or limited access to resources, and identifying ways to develop educational and business support systems that truly address their needs. I firmly believe that by addressing these challenges, we can create opportunities for these women to thrive and make significant contributions to their communities.