Philologist Margarita Valdovinos Receives the 2024 Humboldt Alumni Award

The 15th edition of the Humboldt Alumni Awards acknowledged Margarita Valdovinos Alba’s work at Mexico’s Institute of Philological Research at UNAM. She was recognized for establishing the Network of Women from Latin America and Germany in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is dedicated to recognizing innovative ideas that promote lasting connections between Germany and the home countries of its alumni, focusing on strengthening academic and cultural ties.

In addition to Mexican scholar Valdovinos Alba, the award was also given to Peruvian researcher Gisela Canepa from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and German academic Barbara Göbel from the Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut-Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Valdovinos Alba views this award as a call to action, noting that the recognition entails a commitment to advancing women’s roles in academia and science, advocating for equality, and changing the dynamics of collaboration.

The researcher emphasized that a key pillar of her project is to create a space where female academics from Latin America and Germany can share experiences and redefine their roles in the academic sphere. “Our goal is to transform relationships and promote equitable and supportive collaboration,” she stated.

Furthermore, she reflected on workplace inequalities, noting that women themselves sometimes perpetuate dynamics of workplace hostility. As a result, the project aims to collectively address these structural obstacles, involving all stakeholders in academia, from faculty members to administrative and technical staff.