A physician and academic trailblazer, María Isabel Rodríguez graduated in 1949 and became the first female Dean of Med... View More

A physician and academic trailblazer, María Isabel Rodríguez graduated in 1949 and became the first female Dean of Medicine at UES. From 1999 to 2007, she served as the university’s first female rector. Later, as Minister of Health (2009–2014), she led major public health reforms and, since then, has acted as Presidential Advisor on Health and Education. Her contributions earned her the Pan American Health Organization’s Public Health Hero award in 2015, along with numerous honorary doctorates View Less

Dubbed one of Latin America’s most compelling poets, Roque Dalton earned his law degree at UES, co-founded its Univers... View More

Dubbed one of Latin America’s most compelling poets, Roque Dalton earned his law degree at UES, co-founded its University Literary Circle, and became a prolific poet, essayist, and activist. His award-winning collection “Taberna y Otros Lugares” (Casa de las Américas Prize, 1969) reflects political fervor and personal depth. A Marxist-Leninist militant, he lived in exile and returned to join guerrilla efforts, tragically executed in 1975. Posthumously honored by UES and the government, his legacy endures in Salvadoran literature View Less

A seminal Marxist-Leninist revolutionary, Farabundo Martí studied at UES before emerging as a leader during the 1932 pe... View More

A seminal Marxist-Leninist revolutionary, Farabundo Martí studied at UES before emerging as a leader during the 1932 peasant uprising (La Matanza). His mobilization of labor, peasant, and indigenous movements marked a defining moment in Salvadoran history. Martí’s name lives on through the FMLN (Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front), one of El Salvador’s main political parties. His revolutionary efforts continue to symbolize resistance and justice in the country’s collective memory View Less

One of the first women to earn an M.D. from UES (1948), Adela Cabezas became a pediatric and nutrition expert. After fur... View More

One of the first women to earn an M.D. from UES (1948), Adela Cabezas became a pediatric and nutrition expert. After further training in the U.S., she contributed to combating endemic goiter among Central American children. Her career includes leading Nutrition at El Salvador’s Ministry of Health, heading Red Cross Medical Services in the 1980s, and publishing influential medical texts. In 2007, the Legislative Assembly named her a "Distinguished Physician of El Salvador View Less

A UES-trained lawyer, María Eugenia made history as El Salvador’s first female Foreign Minister (1999–2004). She la... View More

A UES-trained lawyer, María Eugenia made history as El Salvador’s first female Foreign Minister (1999–2004). She later became the first woman to lead both an insurance company and a private bank in the country. Her career experienced international heights with HSBC, where she oversaw corporate sustainability across Latin America. She holds a Master’s from INCAE and continued education at Cambridge, earning recognition as a pioneering executive and lawyer View Less

Enrique Borgo, who earned his law degree in 1952 and later an economics degree in 1967 at UES, rose to become Vice Presi... View More

Enrique Borgo, who earned his law degree in 1952 and later an economics degree in 1967 at UES, rose to become Vice President of El Salvador (1994–1999). A seasoned diplomat and businessman, he also served as Ambassador to Spain (2004–2009) and held key advisory roles. Borgo’s career spans law, finance, diplomacy, and executive leadership in both government and private sectors View Less

After studying at UES, Sigfrido Reyes became a leading figure in Salvadoran politics. He served as President of the Legi... View More

After studying at UES, Sigfrido Reyes became a leading figure in Salvadoran politics. He served as President of the Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2015, and as a deputy from 2006 to 2015, including representation in the Central American Parliament. A member of the FMLN and previously the Communist Party, Reyes is credited with efforts to strengthen legislative institutions and democratic governance View Less

Acclaimed as “El Salvador’s National Artist,” Fernando Llort brought UES artistic traditions into rural life. He t... View More

Acclaimed as “El Salvador’s National Artist,” Fernando Llort brought UES artistic traditions into rural life. He taught art in La Palma, Chalatenango, empowering villagers through bright, expressive folk pieces blending local themes with modernist touches reminiscent of Picasso and Miró. His legacy of community art uplifted rural economies and national pride, making Llort a cultural icon View Less

Eugenio Aguilar, a statesman educated at UES in the mid‑1800s, rose to prominence as President of El Salvador (1846–... View More

Eugenio Aguilar, a statesman educated at UES in the mid‑1800s, rose to prominence as President of El Salvador (1846–1848). As president, he promoted public education and modernization initiatives. His leadership strengthened state institutions and built foundations for modern Salvadoran governance View Less