31 May Hi from Puerto Rico

Marta Zayas is a hard of hearing person. She was recently admitted to the University of Puerto Rico to complete her graduate studies in Art History and Deaf Women’s Studies.

Born and raised in the heart of Puerto Rico, during her college studies she engaged as a student counselor to guide and motivate new undergraduate students with disabilities within the campus. Later, she participated as historian of UPR’s Golden Key chapter, where she values volunteering and educational experiences that aid families as well as communities in need. She has passion for learning about art and had the opportunity to inform, explain and interpret the pictorial works to visitors on the 50-years retrospective Puerto Rican artist Antonio Martorell at the Museo de las Américas, located in Old San Juan.

Recently, she completed a research on historic preservation in collaboration with three National Park Service scientists. For her project, titled “Cañón Ordóñez: su historia y restauración,” she received a “Coin for Excellence” presented by San Juan National Historic Site”.

She expresses her gratitude to the Latino Heritage Internship Program, the National Park Service and EFTA, for giving her the opportunity to learn the history of her home country Puerto Rico every day and share her experiences with everyone. According to the historian Fernando Picó: “Cada generación necesita narrar de nuevo a Puerto Rico. No hay historias definitivas”.