Margarita Nolasco Santiago is a Puerto Rican politician,

senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

, and former Mayor of Coamo. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2004.

Early years and studies

Margarita Nolasco graduated at Florencio Santiago High School in Coamo. She obtained her

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and her

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...

from

State University of New York The State University of New York (SUNY ) is a system of Public education, public colleges and universities in the New York (state), State of New York. It is one of the List of largest universities and university networks by enrollment, larges ...

, both in Education with a Major in Mathematics. She then completed her

Doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning "teacher") or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' licentia docendi'' ("licence to teach ...

in Education with a Major in Curriculum from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.

Professional career

After receiving her bachelor's degree, Nolasco worked for the Puerto Rico Department of Education in Barranquitas High School. After finishing her master's degree, she worked as a mathematics teacher at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in Barranquitas. Two years later, she was appointed as Coordinator of Academic Affairs of the same institution. After some time, she transferred to the Interamerican University of San Germán where she worked as Director of the General Education Program. She then transferred to the Ponce Campus where she worked as Dean of Academic Affairs. She is co-author of two books in mathematics with McGraw-Hill.

Political career

Nolasco began her political career in 1996, when she was elected as Mayor of Coamo. She ran again in the 2000 elections, but lost to the candidate of the Popular Democratic Party. In

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, she was elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico for the District of Guayama. She became the Majority Whip of her party, and eventually the Majority Speaker. During that term, she presided the Commission of Superior Education, among others. For the 2008 general elections, Nolasco ran for Senator at-large after winning a slot at the PNP primaries. She was elected and appointed as President pro tempore by President Thomas Rivera Schatz.16ta Asamblea Legislativa de Puerto Rico
on SenadoPR

Personal life

Nolasco has a son: Angel Miguel Cruz Nolasco, born in 1979. She also has three grandchildren: Clarymar, Angélica Cristina, and Angel Miguel.

References

External links

Hon. Margarita Nolasco
on SenadoPR {{DEFAULTSORT:Nolasco Santiago, Margarita Democratic Party (Puerto Rico) politicians Members of the Senate of Puerto Rico Interamerican University of Puerto Rico alumni Living people People from Coamo, Puerto Rico Mayors of places in Puerto Rico New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico) politicians Presidents pro tempore of the Senate of Puerto Rico Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico alumni Puerto Rican women in politics State University of New York alumni 20th-century American women politicians 20th-century mayors of places in Puerto Rico 21st-century American women politicians Women mayors of places in Puerto Rico Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico