The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana is a private university in Colombia founded in 1623. It is one of the oldest and most traditional Colombian universities, directed by the Society of Jesus, with its main facilities in Bogotá and a second campus in Cali. "La Javeriana", as it is known by its students, has traditionally educated the Colombian upper class. It is one of the 33 universities entrusted to the Society of Jesus in Latin America and one of 167 around the world.
The Universidad Externado de Colombia is a private university in Bogotá, Colombia. It has produced graduates including lawyers, academics, judges, financiers, journalists, as well as senior government officials and politicians. The institution grants 4 and 5-year professional degrees, as well as advanced Master and Doctoral degrees. Instruction is primarily in Spanish.
Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego is a Colombian politician, economist, and former member of the M19 armed guerrilla movement. He has been the president of Colombia since 2022. Upon his inauguration, he became the first left-wing president in the recent history of Colombia.
Gina María Parody d'Echeona is a Colombian politician. Born in Bogotá in 1973, Parody graduated as a lawyer from Pontifical Xavierian University and became a politician. She has served as Director of the National Learning Service (SENA), as a Senator, as member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia, and most recently as Minister of Education.
Marta Lucía Ramírez Blanco is a Colombian lawyer and politician who served as 12th Vice President of Colombia from 2018 to 2022. She also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia. In 2018, Ramírez became the first woman elected to serve as Vice President of Colombia, running on a ticket with Iván Duque. In 2021, after the resignation of her predecessor Claudia Blum, she was pronounced chancellor by the president Iván Duque.
Cecilia Matilde López Montaño is an economist and Colombian politician. A member of the Liberal Party, she has been appointed to several cabinet positions. On September 27, 2009, she was a runner-up in the presidential primaries and was the only female candidate amongst six other members of the party.
Beatriz Londoño Soto is a Colombian physician and administrative politician who previously served as the Ambassador of Colombia to Switzerland and as the 2nd Minister of Health and Social Protection of Colombia in the Administration of President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón. She had previously served as Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare under the administration of her predecessor from 2010 to 2011, and as Director of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute from 2002 to 2006.
Presidential elections were held in Colombia on 27 May 2018. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, the second round of voting was held on 17 June. Incumbent president Juan Manuel Santos was ineligible to seek a third term. Iván Duque, a senator, defeated Gustavo Petro, former mayor of Bogotá, in the second round. Duque's victory made him one of the youngest individuals elected to the presidency, aged 42. His running mate, Marta Lucía Ramírez, was the first woman elected to the vice presidency in Colombian history.
Francia Elena Márquez Mina is a Colombian human-rights and environmental activist and lawyer, who is the 13th and current Vice President of Colombia. She was born in Yolombó, a village in the Suarez municipality in Cauca Department. She first became an activist at 13, when construction of a dam threatened her community. After taking office, she became the first Afro-Colombian vice president in the country's history. She is also the second woman to hold the post, after Marta Lucía Ramírez. In August 2020, Márquez announced her candidacy in the 2022 Colombian presidential election and sought the nomination for the Historic Pact for Colombia coalition. She was later chosen by the coalition's nominee, Gustavo Petro, to be his running mate. In 2023 she was also appointed as Ministry of Equality and Equity of Colombia.
Rosa Rojas Castro was the first Colombian woman to obtain a doctorate and first woman lawyer in the country. She is remembered as a pioneer who opened higher education and professional careers to women.
Presidential elections were held in Colombia on 29 May 2022, with a runoff on 19 June 2022 as no candidate obtained at least 50% in the first round of voting. Iván Duque, who was elected president in 2018, was ineligible to run due to term limits. Gustavo Petro, a senator, former Mayor of Bogota, and runner-up in the 2018 election, defeated Rodolfo Hernández Suárez, former Mayor of Bucaramanga, in the runoff election. Petro's victory made him the first left-wing candidate to be elected president of Colombia, and his running mate, Francia Márquez, is the first Afro-Colombian elected to the vice-presidency, as well as the second female vice-president overall.
Verónica del Socorro Alcocer García is a Colombian philanthropist and the current First Lady of Colombia since 2022, as the third wife of President Gustavo Petro.
Gustavo Petro assumed office as President of Colombia on August 7, 2022. The President has the power to nominate members of his Cabinet at his own discretion, in accordance with the Constitution of Colombia.
Néstor Iván Osuna Patiño is a Colombian lawyer, magistrate and university professor. Since August 17, 2022, he is the current Minister of Justice.
Irene Vélez Torres is a Colombian philosopher and doctor in political geography. Since August 11, 2022 to July 19, 2023, she has held the position of Minister of Mines and Energy.
Gloria Inés Ramírez Rios is a Colombian politician, teacher and trade unionist, member of the Colombian Communist Party. Since 11 August 2022, she has held the position of Minister of Labour of her country, in the government of Gustavo Petro.
María Susana Muhamad González is a Colombian political scientist, environmentalist and politician belonging to the Colombia Humana party. Since August 7, 2022, she has held the position of Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of her country, in the government of Gustavo Petro.
Sandra Milena Urrutia Pérez is a Colombian lawyer specializing in telecommunications and administrative law. from 2022 to 2023 as the Minister of Information and Communication Technologies
Aurora Vergara Figueroa is a Colombian sociologist and academic who has been a tenured professor in the Department of Social Studies at the Icesi University and director of the Center for Afrodiasporic Studies.
Diana Carolina Corcho Mejía is a Colombian doctor, psychiatrist and political scientist. having served as Minister of Health and Social Protection from August 7, 2022 to April 26, 2023.
