An economist and politician of Palestinian ancestry, Dada Hirezi was a student leader and early ACUS president before he... View More

An economist and politician of Palestinian ancestry, Dada Hirezi was a student leader and early ACUS president before helping found the Christian Democratic Party. He served as a deputy in the Legislative Assembly from 1966–70 and later became Foreign Minister (1979–80), participating in both Revolutionary Government Junta councils. After the war, he returned to politics as a San Salvador councilor and deputy for Cambio Democrático, eventually serving as Minister of Economy under President Mauricio Funes (2009–12), earning his reputation as a seasoned statesman and diplomat View Less

A trailblazing lawyer and business leader, Brizuela de Ávila made history as El Salvador’s first female Foreign Minis... View More

A trailblazing lawyer and business leader, Brizuela de Ávila made history as El Salvador’s first female Foreign Minister (1999–2004) and the first Salvadoran woman to lead a private bank. She founded Internacional de Seguros in 1997 and later served as Director of Corporate Sustainability for HSBC Latin America. Educated at INCAE and Cambridge, she’s an executive coach, advocate for women's leadership, and has been honored with awards like the Palme d’Or from the Salvadoran Chamber of Commerce and inclusion in the American School Hall of Fame. View Less

An accomplished economist and civil servant, Lazo earned her degree at UNICAES before pursuing macroeconomics in Chile a... View More

An accomplished economist and civil servant, Lazo earned her degree at UNICAES before pursuing macroeconomics in Chile and public administration at Harvard. She went on to serve as dean of ESEN and was the vice-presidential candidate for ARENA in 2019. Recognized for academic excellence with scholarships from the governments of Japan, the U.S., and the World Bank, Lazo is a leading voice in economic policy, frequently interviewed and cited on topics like deportee reintegration and national economic resilience with a forward-looking focus. View Less

The country’s first female Vice President (2004–2009) under President Saca, Escobar is an economist and prominent AR... View More

The country’s first female Vice President (2004–2009) under President Saca, Escobar is an economist and prominent ARENA party figure. She previously served as Director of the Salvadoran Social Security Institute, and during her vice presidency she spearheaded national export and investment drives through PROESA and EXPORTA. Her tenure saw major reforms in infrastructure, energy, and logistics, and she was instrumental in establishing a national export strategy still in use today, cementing her legacy as a modernization champion View Less

A pioneer of higher education, Huezo was the first woman to graduate from any university in Central America—and the fi... View More

A pioneer of higher education, Huezo was the first woman to graduate from any university in Central America—and the first female engineer in all Ibero‑America. Born in San Salvador, she earned her engineering degree in 1889 and authored a groundbreaking thesis debunking myths about the harvest moon. Her work was internationally recognized across Europe and the Americas. Despite her short life—she died of tuberculosis at age 21—Huezo left an incredible legacy of academic courage and intellectual achievement. View Less

A respected lawyer and politician, Félix Ulloa studied law at UNICAES before earning advanced degrees in Spain, France,... View More

A respected lawyer and politician, Félix Ulloa studied law at UNICAES before earning advanced degrees in Spain, France, and the U.S. A leader in electoral reform and international observation missions, he served as magistrate on the Salvadoran Supreme Electoral Tribunal and later as Vice President under Nayib Bukele (2019–present), being re‑elected in 2024. Known for his work in democracy-building with international organizations (UPD/OEA, Carter Center, NDI), Ulloa combines academic rigor with public service to guide democratic processes in El Salvador and beyond View Less

A media entrepreneur turned politician, Tony Saca pursued his early studies at UNICAES before launching a career in jour... View More

A media entrepreneur turned politician, Tony Saca pursued his early studies at UNICAES before launching a career in journalism and business. He entered politics, becoming President of El Salvador from 2004 to 2009. Although his tenure was later marred by a major corruption conviction in 2018, his administration saw infrastructural and economic initiatives. His path reflects both the heights UNICAES alumni can reach and the complex accountability challenges in Salvadoran governance View Less

Hailed by his 2009 cohort as a volunteer pioneer, Francia led local cultural and heritage efforts in Santa Ana after g... View More

Hailed by his 2009 cohort as a volunteer pioneer, Francia led local cultural and heritage efforts in Santa Ana after graduating from UNICAES. Founder and director of El País newspaper and APACULSA (the Association for Cultural Heritage of Santa Ana), he also co-led the restoration of the Santa Ana Cathedral. His leadership in media and cultural preservation earned him broad community respect and accolades, including an honorary doctorate for deep civic contribution . View Less

A rising star and global-minded thinker, Ariel studied Industrial Engineering at UNICAES, where he also thrived in the U... View More

A rising star and global-minded thinker, Ariel studied Industrial Engineering at UNICAES, where he also thrived in the U.S.-funded English Access program. He embraced international opportunities—earning a semester exchange at Memorial University in Canada—and his commitment to innovation and multicultural understanding reflects UNICAES’s growing role in preparing tech-savvy, globally competent graduates View Less

A passionate medical student pursuing her doctorate at UNICAES, Jennifer excels both academically and athletically. She�... View More

A passionate medical student pursuing her doctorate at UNICAES, Jennifer excels both academically and athletically. She’s not only advancing in her medical research but also participating in community fitness initiatives like the university's family running events. Jennifer represents the integration of wellness, research, and holistic education that UNICAES fosters—exemplifying how future doctors can be healthy leaders and ambassadors of community well-being View Less