Get to know me…

Elcira Villarreal

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Colón, which is the second largest city of the republic of Panama.

WHere did you attend school?

I did my undergraduate at Incarnate Word University in San Antonio, Texas, and then I did my masters there too. Then I went on to the University of Texas at Austin to do my PhD, but my professor got a job at Oregon State, so I finished at Oregon State, so my PhD degree is from Oregon State. Then I went on to Harvard Medical School.

What keeps you in Indiana?

Well, actually, the cost of living is very reasonable, and we have a lot of friends here. We are apart of this community, we have established friends here, so that’s very nice. Also my wife Jennet, her mother is still alive, and she’s here in Indiana, so we have to keep an eye on her.

When did your interest in advocacy start?

My interest in advocacy started when I was 15 years old. In Panama there was a military-coo that lasted for 24 years, and caused tremendous damage to the nation. At that time, I was apart of a movement that was against the military government.

What drew you towards women4change?

Well, it was actually the results of the election in 2016. The notion that something had to be done, because good things were not going to happen to women as a result of that election, and we have seen now the results of that election. The idea that elections have consequences was throughly proven with that election.

What are some causes you really stand behind right now?

I stand behind the cause of a women’s right to choose. I think it’s very important for women to have the right to choose, and to have the privacy they need to make health and other decisions. I am also very passionate about education. I think a lack of education is at the heart of a lot of the problems that we’re facing. I also believe that we need to instill in people the idea that critical thinking is important, because a lot of people do not exercise critical thinking, and that’s again why we’re in such messes that we’re in right now.

What are some things you do outside of being on the board at women4change?

I am also on the board of Teach for America. In terms of fun, we like to travel a lot. We just came back from Alaska two days ago. We also like to do bird watching. I love to read, I love history, I love politics, and of course science is my number one passion.

Is there something interesting you would like people to know about you?

Again, as part of that advocacy when I was 15 and later in life; when I was 20 I got arrested during one of those rallies against the government. I spent 15 days in prison, and not in the best of conditions, let’s put it that way, haha.