Hazel Velasco Palacios

Hazel Velasco-Palacios is a Ph.D. candidate in Rural Sociology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at The Pennsylvania State University. Her research examines the intersections of gender, migration, and healthcare access in rural agricultural contexts, with a focus on how structural and symbolic violence shape the well-being of agricultural workers.

Hazel is also engaged in public scholarship and community advocacy. She serves on the advisory council of Mighty Writers El Futuro Kennett, where she supports programs that promote the well-being of Latin American families through education and social services. Her research has been published in journals such as The Journal of Rural Health and Rural Sociology, and she is committed to advancing interdisciplinary research that drives systemic change in agricultural labor, healthcare, and migration policies.