Originally from Chicago, IL, Arisleide Valdez Rico earned her Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Culture, as well as Broadcasting and Journalism, with concentrations in Spanish, Advertising and Public Relations from Western Illinois University in May 2025. Her academic journey has included immersive study abroad experiences in Argentina, France, and Spain, which deepened her passion for cross-cultural communication and linguistic diversity.

In Fall 2025, she joined the University of South Carolina’s Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures as a Graduate Instructional Assistant. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Spanish, Arisleide’s research interests center on cultural identities of Mexican immigrant communities, with a particular focus on Spanish language access in migration and policy contexts. Through her graduate studies, she hopes to explore how language can empower marginalized populations and promote greater visibility and equity for Latino communities.