Preceded by Orlando Parga Succeeded by Carlos Pagan Succeeded by Jose Luis Dalmau Name Margarita Santiago | Preceded by Jorge de Castro Font Role Politician Succeeded by Roberto Arango | |
Preceded by Carlos Luis Torres Santiago Party New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico Education Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, University at Albany, SUNY | ||
Margarita Nolasco Santiago is a Puerto Rican politician, Senator, and former Mayor of Coamo. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2004.
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Early years and studies
Margarita Nolasco obtained her Bachelor's degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and her Master's degree from New York State University, both in Education with a Major in Mathematics. She then completed her Doctorate 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, 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.
Personal life
Nolasco has a son: Angel Miguel Cruz Nolasco, born in 1979. She also has three grandchildren: Clarymar, Angélica Cristina, and Angel Miguel.