Her Story
About Nora
Dr. Nora Alicia Galvan, MLS, Ed.D., is an adult literacy leader based in Pharr, Texas, whose career in education spans 48 years. Her professional journey began as a teacher’s aide and progressed through roles as a substitute teacher, classroom teacher, librarian, library coordinator, and library director. She spent 23 years as a library director, where she fostered partnerships among municipal libraries and advanced literacy initiatives within the community. She currently serves in adult literacy with Pharr-San Juan ISD, continuing her longstanding commitment to expanding access to reading and educational opportunities.
Galvan holds a master’s degree in Library Science from Sam Houston State University and a Principal Certification in Administration from The University of Texas-Pan American. She earned her Doctor of Education in Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision from American College of Education in 2025, completing the doctorate alongside her daughter. Her career and contributions have been recognized through the Texas Library Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, Librarian of the Year for the South Texas Rio Grande Valley, and a service award from Sam Houston State University. She has also held leadership positions with the Texas Association of School Library Administrators and serves on the board of the South Texas Literacy Coalition.
Throughout her career, Galvan has focused on adult literacy, library services, community outreach, and empowering others through education. Her experiences growing up with a migrant background and working in migrant communities shaped her belief in the value of seeing and appreciating people from diverse backgrounds. She is particularly committed to creating leaders, embracing innovation, and using storytelling and community projects to help people feel valued and connected. Her work reflects a lifelong dedication to literacy as a means of empowerment, opportunity, and community development.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nora
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the encouragement I received early in my life and the support of the people who believed in me. My high school counselor, Mr. Nieves Garza, encouraged me to pursue college despite my migrant background, and his encouragement helped open the door to my educational and professional journey. I am also deeply grateful for the steadfast support of my husband throughout our 51 years together. My experiences working in migrant communities allowed me to see the beauty in people from many different backgrounds, and those experiences continue to inspire me to motivate others and emphasize the importance of reading as a foundation for learning and opportunity.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Surround yourself with trusting individuals that are loyal to you and your vision. Explore innovative ideas for all stakeholders you relate to. Look forward to bettering things to come and never stop growing. Be honest, work hard, and always do what is right, even when it is difficult. Keep learning and be open to new opportunities. Make a positive impact on the lives of others because success is greater when it is shared.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage the next generation to continue learning, believe in the value of their work, and look for ways to empower others rather than simply managing them. Throughout my career, I have learned that education is about more than providing information—it is about helping people recognize what they are capable of achieving. I would encourage young women to build relationships within their communities, remain open to innovation, and use their talents to create opportunities for others. Most importantly, help people feel that they matter and that their experiences, knowledge, and stories have value.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges in adult literacy is meeting people where they are, particularly adults who enter educational programs with extremely limited literacy skills. Some parents begin without knowing the alphabet, yet their progress demonstrates what can happen when people are given encouragement, access, and support. In the previous year, our adult education center graduated 51 adults with GEDs, with additional students graduating early in the new school year. I see tremendous opportunity in making literacy engaging and accessible, using creativity and technology, and connecting education with people's lives and experiences. Programs such as the BRIGHT Summer Reader/PSJA READS initiative and community storytelling projects, demonstrate that literacy can be exciting, meaningful, and empowering.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value empowerment, inclusion, community, lifelong learning, innovation, and making people feel valued and important. I believe strongly in creating leaders and giving people opportunities to grow rather than simply managing them. I value communication and relationships, and I believe personal stories can bring people together, encourage others, and help communities recognize the experiences and knowledge they already possess. I also believe in embracing innovation, whether through early adoption of technologies such as QR codes or through creative literacy programs and community publications. Ultimately, I want my work to communicate to people that they have value and that they matter in this world.
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