Nancy Blanco, a third-year PhD student at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, received a prestigious three-year scholarship from ConTex-Conahcyt (Mexico's National Council of Humanities, Sciences and Technologies).
This grant, managed by ConTex, a joint initiative of The University of Texas System and Conahcyt, highlights Blanco’s commitment to advancing scholarly research that addresses critical issues affecting Latinx communities.
Conahcyt supports the development of scientific research, humanistic studies and technological innovation in Mexico, and is known for its commitment to fostering academic excellence across diverse disciplines by providing funding and resources to scholars and researchers.
The grant will support Blanco’s doctoral studies and her dissertation research, which explores the intersection of immigration, detention, reproductive justice and pregnancy and postpartum outcomes among Latinx populations. Blanco aims to shed light on the complex factors influencing maternal health and advocate for policies that ensure equitable and culturally inclusive health care access for migrant populations.
As a bilingual, bicultural scholar, Blanco hopes to bring a unique perspective to border research. Her long-term research agenda aims to engage communities across the U.S. and Mexico, to make meaningful contributions to the fields of nursing, human rights, and reproductive justice on both a local and international scale.
In addition to her academic achievements, Blanco serves as a fellow at the UT Austin Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice and as the Vice President of the Latinx Graduate Student Association.