Aurelia Palmieri

Palmieri was born in Quito with an Italian heritage. She was an advocate for women's rights in education in Ecuador.^[1] She became the first female university student in the country, thanks to a decree made by the president Eloy Alfaro.^[2] Her qualifications to enter the university were incomplete because of her gender. Alfaro's decree made these unnecessary.^[3] She was awarded a pension of 50 sucres per month while she was at university and this allowed her to enter the Faculty of Medicine.^[4]

She was the first woman student at the University of Guayaquil.^[5]

Her example is thought to have inspired later pioneers including Elena Valle Schennone was Ecuador's first woman surgeon.^[1]