Viviana Paola Hilario Paucar, a historian and graduate of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), was announced on Apr. 18 as the first alumna from the university’s Faculty of Social Sciences to be admitted to a master’s program at Harvard University.
This milestone is significant for both Hilario Paucar and her alma mater, reflecting the increasing presence of Peruvian scholars in leading global academic institutions. Her achievement highlights opportunities available through public education and underscores UNMSM’s commitment to fostering talent that can contribute internationally.
Hilario Paucar will begin her studies in Education Policy and Analysis at the Harvard Graduate School of Education on Aug. 4, after being accepted following a competitive selection process involving candidates from around the world. “Studying this multidisciplinary master’s degree at Harvard is a very important challenge that I take with great responsibility,” she said. “It will allow me to strengthen my abilities to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based educational policies focused on equity.” She added her intent to return home after graduation: “I hope to come back and apply everything I have learned in my country.”
Raised in Lima by parents who migrated due to violence in their hometowns, Hilario Paucar was the first in her family to attend university. She credits perseverance learned from her parents for her achievements: “The fact of fighting and persevering without giving up adversity… I have learned from my parents, whom I love, respect, and value deeply,” she said.
Her academic journey included leadership roles such as president of the History Students’ Center (CEHIS) at UNMSM and involvement with research groups like ‘Analicemos Historia.’ After earning an outstanding grade for her undergraduate thesis on criminal history during colonial times, she pursued further studies including a master’s degree at UNMSM—where she ranked first among entrants—and received awards such as the Andean Scholarship for Young Researchers.
Professionally, Hilario Paucar has worked as an investigator at Peru’s Ministry of Culture and currently serves as a specialist with the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI-Peru), leading educational initiatives across six regions impacting over seven million people.
She expressed gratitude toward professors who supported her application process: “Thanks to them my desire was strengthened… In 2025 I finally applied—ten years after having thought about it.” She hopes others are inspired by her story: “If I achieved it, you can too.”
UNMSM operates multiple campuses including its central facility and provincial extensions according to its official website. The university promotes cultural well-being through initiatives supporting responsibility, equity, inclusion, and sustainable development according to its official website. It offers 81 undergraduate programs along with postgraduate options while focusing on research and community outreach according to its official website.
Recognized by Peru’s constitution as an autonomous public entity according to its official website, UNMSM leads public universities in rankings such as QS World University Rankings according to its official website. The institution emphasizes knowledge dissemination alongside national sustainable development goals according to its official website.
