75 Notable alumni of
University of the Andes, Colombia

Updated:

EduRank

The University of the Andes, Colombia is 638th in the world, 19th in Latin America, and 3rd in Colombia by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 75 notable alumni from the University of the Andes, Colombia sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.

  1. César Gaviria

    César Gaviria
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1947-.. (age 78)
    Occupations
    politiciandiplomateconomist
    Biography

    César Augusto Gaviria Trujillo is a Colombian economist and politician who served as the President of Colombia from 1990 to 1994, Secretary General of the Organization of American States from 1994 to 2004 and National Director of the Colombian Liberal Party from 2005 to 2009. During his tenure as president, he summoned the Constituent Assembly of Colombia that enacted the Constitution of 1991.

  2. Sergio Fajardo

    Sergio Fajardo
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1956-.. (age 69)
    Enrolled in the University of the Andes, Colombia
    In 1977 graduated with mathematician
    Occupations
    university teacherpoliticianenvironmentalistjournalistmathematician
    Biography

    Sergio Fajardo Valderrama is a Colombian politician and mathematician. He first entered politics in 2003 when he was elected Mayor of Medellín, the second-largest city in Colombia and the capital of Antioquia. He was the mayor of Medellín from 2003 to 2007 and is widely recognized for transforming the city from a violent and impoverished place to a model of social and urban development. Fajardo was the vice presidential nominee of Antanas Mockus in 2010, finishing in second place after losing the runoff against Juan Manuel Santos and Angelino Garzon. Fajardo served as the governor of Antioquia from 2012 to 2016. Fajardo brands himself as a pragmatic politician with no particular ideology, with political analysts and media outlets in Colombia labelling him as a centrist politician not tied to the traditional parties in Colombia.

  3. Paola Turbay

    Paola Turbay
    Born in
    United States Flag United States
    Years
    1970-.. (age 55)
    Occupations
    modelactorbeauty pageant contestant
    Biography

    Paola Turbay Gómez is a Colombian-American actress, model, TV host and beauty pageant titleholder. She was a regular in season 3 of the TV series Bosch.

  4. Yaku Pérez

    Yaku Pérez
    Born in
    Ecuador Flag Ecuador
    Years
    1969-.. (age 56)
    Enrolled in the University of the Andes, Colombia
    Graduated with magister degree in criminal law and criminology
    Occupations
    politicianuniversity teacherlawyerenvironmentalistindigenous leader of the Americas
    Biography

    Yaku Sacha Pérez Guartambel, often simply known as Yaku Pérez, is an Ecuadorian politician and indigenous rights, human rights, and nature's rights activist, who ran for president of the country in the 2021 presidential elections and came third in the first round. He ran for president again in the 2023 elections.

  5. María Fernanda Cabal

    María Fernanda Cabal
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1966-.. (age 59)
    Occupations
    politicianpolitical scientist
    Biography

    María Fernanda Cabal Molina is a Colombian businesswoman, political scientist and politician.

  6. Cesar Acuña

    Cesar Acuña
    Born in
    Peru Flag Peru
    Years
    1952-.. (age 73)
    Occupations
    businesspersonpoliticianeducator
    Biography

    Cesar Acuña Peralta is a Peruvian politician and entrepreneur in the field of education. A controversial figure in Peruvian politics, he is the founder and leader of the Alliance for Progress party, which has achieved recognition for being the first party of provincial origin to gain electoral popularity at national level since its foundation in 2001.

  7. Laura Restrepo

    Laura Restrepo
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1950-.. (age 75)
    Occupations
    writernovelistpoetjournalist
    Biography

    Laura Restrepo is a Colombian author who began writing what were mainly political columns in her mid-twenties. Her first novel, Isle of Passion, is based on historical deeds that occurred on Clipperton Island.

  8. María Jimena Duzán Gomez

    María Jimena Duzán Gomez
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1960-.. (age 65)
    Occupations
    journalist
    Biography

    María Jimena Duzán Sáezn is a Colombian journalist and political scientist. She has worked for some of the most important media outlets in the country, including El Espectador, El Tiempo, and the magazine Semana, where she was employed from 2008 to 2020. From 2020 to 2021, she was a host on Caracol Radio's La W. She has also written for international publications. She is known for her criticism of the Álvaro Uribe government (2002–2010).

  9. Fernando Botero Zea

    Fernando Botero Zea
    Born in
    Mexico Flag Mexico
    Years
    1956-.. (age 69)
    Occupations
    Modern Defense
    Biography

    Fernando Botero Zea is a businessman and liberal politician of dual Colombia and Mexican nationalities, mainly known for having served as Minister of National Defense of Colombia and also for being an important businessman based in Mexico City. He is the son of Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero and cultural promoter and icon Gloria Zea.

  10. Gabriela Tafur Nader

    Gabriela Tafur Nader
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1995-.. (age 30)
    Occupations
    lawyermodel
    Biography

    Gabriela Tafur Náder is a beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Colombia 2018. She represented Colombia at Miss Universe 2019 and reached placed in the Top 5 finalist.

  11. Paloma Valencia Laserna

    Paloma Valencia Laserna
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1978-.. (age 47)
    Enrolled in the University of the Andes, Colombia
    Studied economics
    Occupations
    philosopherpoliticianprofessorcolumnistlawyer
    Biography

    Paloma Susana Valencia Laserna is a Colombian politician serving as a member of the Senate since 2014. She was a candidate for president of Colombia in the 2018 and 2022 elections, and has expressed interesting in running in the 2026 election. She is the daughter of Ignacio Valencia, the granddaughter of Guillermo León Valencia and Mario Laserna Pinzón, the great-granddaughter of Guillermo Valencia, the niece of Juan Mario Laserna, and the great-niece of Josefina Valencia Muñoz.

  12. Clara López

    Clara López
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1950-.. (age 75)
    Occupations
    politicianeconomistlawyer
    Biography

    Clara Eugenia López Obregón is a Colombian politician who was the Minister for Employment. She also served as Acting Mayor of Bogotá from 2011 to 2012. A Harvard-trained economist, she was the Alternative Democratic Pole's nominee for President of Colombia in the 2014 election.

  13. Jorge Enrique Robledo

    Jorge Enrique Robledo
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    2004-.. (age 21)
    Occupations
    architectpolitician
    Biography

    Jorge Enrique Robledo Castillo is a Colombian politician, architect, professor, and author. He served as a member of the Senate of Colombia from 2002 until 2022, when he decided to leave his position in congress to pursue the office of president of Colombia, ultimately losing to Gustavo Petro. On 21 June 2023, Robledo announced that he was running for mayor of Bogotá in the October 2023 elections.

  14. Mónica Jaramillo

    Mónica Jaramillo
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1984-.. (age 41)
    Occupations
    modeljournalistnews presenter
    Biography

    Mónica Patricia Jaramillo Giraldo known as Mónica Jaramillo, is a Colombian journalist, news presenter, model and former beauty pageant contestant.

  15. Esteman

    Esteman
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1984-.. (age 41)
    Occupations
    singer
    Biography

    Esteban Mateus Williamson, known professionally as Esteman, is a Colombian singer and songwriter from Bogotá, Colombia.

  16. Andrés Felipe Arias Leiva

    Andrés Felipe Arias Leiva
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1973-.. (age 52)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Andrés Felipe Arias Leiva is a Colombian economist, sentenced to 17 years and 4 months of prison for a corruption scandal during his time as Minister of Agriculture. He served as the 8th Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia from 2005 to 2009, and was a candidate for the Conservative Party nomination in the 2010 Colombian presidential election, ultimately losing to Noemí Sanín Posada.

  17. María Ángela Holguín

    María Ángela Holguín
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1963-.. (age 62)
    Occupations
    diplomat
    Biography

    María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar is a Colombian politician and diplomat who has been serving as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus since 2024.

  18. Piedad Bonnett

    Piedad Bonnett
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1951-.. (age 74)
    Occupations
    writerplaywrightpoetliterary critic
    Biography

    Piedad Bonnett Vélez is a Colombian poet, playwright and novelist.

  19. Carolina Sanín Paz

    Carolina Sanín Paz
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1973-.. (age 52)
    Occupations
    writerteachercolumnist
    Biography

    Carolina Sanín Paz is a Colombian writer who also holds Spanish citizenship. She has published novels, essays, short stories, and children's books. She has been a professor at SUNY Purchase in the United States, and at University of Los Andes and National University of Colombia in Colombia. She has also worked as a translator, as a television host, and as a film actress. She has contributed periodical columns to several Colombian and international newspapers and magazines.

  20. Rafael Pardo Rueda

    Rafael Pardo Rueda
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1953-.. (age 72)
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    Rafael Pardo Rueda is a Colombian politician. A Liberal party politician and economist, he has previously served as the 1st Minister of Labour of Colombia serving in the Administration of President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, Minister of National Defence, and was elected Senator of Colombia for the 2002-2006 legislative period.

  21. Alberto Carrasquilla Barrera

    Alberto Carrasquilla Barrera
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1959-.. (age 66)
    Occupations
    politicianministereconomist
    Biography

    Alberto Carrasquilla Barrera is a Colombian politician who served as the Minister of Finance and Public Credit under the government of President Iván Duque, and previously under President Álvaro Uribe. In May 2021 he resigned office over the protests surrounding a controversial tax reform in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  22. Andrés López Forero

    Andrés López Forero
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1971-.. (age 54)
    Occupations
    actor
    Biography

    Andrés López is a comedian and actor. He is considered a pioneer of stand-up comedy in Colombia. López gained notoriety in Colombia after releasing his show called La Pelota de Letras (The Ball of Letters) which earned him a Double Diamond award from Universal Music.

  23. Juan Carlos Echeverry

    Juan Carlos Echeverry
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1962-.. (age 63)
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    Juan Carlos Echeverry Garzón is a Colombian economist and former president of Ecopetrol, an oil and gas company. He served as the 68th Minister of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia from 2010 to 2012. He is the president of Econcept, a financial consulting firm in Bogotá and is an Associate Professor of Economics at University of the Andes. He was also a visiting professor at IE Business School, Madrid in 2013.

  24. María Victoria Angulo González

    María Victoria Angulo González
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1980-.. (age 45)
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    María Victoria Angulo González is a Colombian politician who served as Minister of National Education from 2018 to 2022.

  25. María Mercedes Carranza

    María Mercedes Carranza
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1945-2003 (aged 58)
    Occupations
    writerjournalistpoet
    Biography

    María Mercedes Carranza was a poet and journalist from Bogotá, Colombia, who spent most of her childhood in Spain.

  26. Gloria Gaitán

    Gloria Gaitán
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1937-.. (age 88)
    Occupations
    writerpoliticiandiplomat
    Biography

    Gloria Amparo de las Mercedes Gaitán Jaramillo is a Colombian writer, diplomat, and politician. She was a member of the Chamber of Representatives from 1970 to 1974, and served as Colombia's ambassador to Romania in 1982.

  27. Fidel Cano Correa

    Fidel Cano Correa
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1965-.. (age 60)
    Occupations
    journalist
    Biography

    Fidel Cano Correa is a Colombian journalist, born 23 November 1965 in Bogotá. Since May 2004 he is the publisher of El Espectador, Colombia's oldest newspaper.

  28. Samper

    Samper
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1985-.. (age 40)
    Occupations
    singersongwriter
    Biography

    Juan Felipe Samper better known as "SAMPER" is a musician, songwriter, Colombian pop rock singer winner of 2 Premios Shock, 1 Premios Nuestra Tierra and Latin Grammy nominee.

  29. María Susana Muhamad

    María Susana Muhamad
    Years
    1976-.. (age 49)
    Enrolled in the University of the Andes, Colombia
    Studied political science
    Occupations
    politicianenvironmentalist
    Biography

    María Susana Muhamad González is a Colombian political scientist, environmentalist and politician belonging to the Humane Colombia party. Since August 7, 2022, she has held the position of Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development in the government of Gustavo Petro. She has called for phasing out fossil fuels including coal, which Colombia exports.

  30. Alicia Arango Olmos

    Alicia Arango Olmos
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1958-.. (age 67)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Alicia Victoria Arango Olmos is a Colombian politician and businesswoman, who served as the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Labor of Colombia. She was previously the private secretary of President Álvaro Uribe's Casa de Nariño and the nation's ambassador to the United Nations at Geneva.

  31. Mauricio Cárdenas Santa María

    Mauricio Cárdenas Santa María
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1962-.. (age 63)
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    Mauricio Cárdenas Santamaría is a Colombian economist and politician who served as the 69th Minister of Finance and Public Credit and former Minister of Mines and Energy of Colombia in the administration of President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón. Prior to this, he was a Senior Fellow and Director of the Latin America Initiative at the Brookings Institution.

  32. Cecilia López Montaño

    Cecilia López Montaño
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1943-.. (age 82)
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    Cecilia Matilde López Montaño is a Colombian economist and politician of the Liberal Party who has held several cabinet positions. On September 27, 2009, she was a runner-up in the presidential primary election in Colombia.

  33. Juan Fernando Cristo

    Juan Fernando Cristo
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1964-.. (age 61)
    Occupations
    lawyerpolitician
    Biography

    Juan Fernando Cristo Bustos is a Colombian lawyer and politician. He served as a Colombian Senator from 1998 to 2014, and was Minister of the Interior under Juan Manuel Santos from 2014 to 2017. In this capacity, he played a key role in negotiating and implementing the peace accords signed with FARC. He was reappointed Minister of the Interior in 2024 by President Gustavo Petro.

  34. Juan Lozano Ramírez

    Juan Lozano Ramírez
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1964-.. (age 61)
    Occupations
    politicianjournalistlawyer
    Biography

    Juan Francisco Lozano Ramírez is a Colombian lawyer and journalist currently serving as Senator of Colombia and since 2010 has been the General Director of the Social Party of National Unity (Party of the U), Colombia's biggest political and most influential political coalition. Under the Administration of President Álvaro Uribe Vélez he served as the 3rd Minister of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development (2006-2009), High Presidential Advisor (2004-2006), and Presidential Advisor of Social Policy (2004), and had also served as Presidential Advisor for the Youth, Women, and Family (1990-1993) in the Administration of President César Gaviria Trujillo.

  35. Rafael Chaparro Madiedo

    Rafael Chaparro Madiedo
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1963-1995 (aged 32)
    Occupations
    writer
    Biography

    Rafael Chaparro Madiedo was a Colombian writer who won Colombia's 1992 National Literature Prize for his only novel Opium in Clouds (Opio en las nubes). Chaparro was influenced by Colombian novelist Andrés Caicedo and by twentieth century American literary and art movements. As a teenager, Chaparro Madiedo graduated from the Colombian-Swiss school Helvetia; he later attended and graduated from the Universidad de los Andes with a B.A. in Philosophy and Literature. His novel Opium in Clouds received little initial literary acclaim outside of the National Literature award, but has been very popular among young adults in Colombia, eventually attaining cult status, and has an extended online fan base. He died of lupus on April 18, 1995.

  36. Carlos Alberto Baena

    Carlos Alberto Baena
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1967-.. (age 58)
    Occupations
    lawyerpolitician
    Biography

    Carlos Alberto Baena López is a Colombian lawyer and politician, who serves, since 2020, as Vice Minister for Participation and Equality of Rights of the Ministry of the Interior of Colombia. He served as Senator of Colombia from 2010 to 2014. Baena is a co-founder of the Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation (MIRA) and has served two terms as Party Chairman. Before ascending to Congress, Baena served as Councillor of the Bogotá City Council from 2001 to 2009.

  37. Catalina Botero Marino

    Catalina Botero Marino
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1965-.. (age 60)
    Occupations
    deanhuman rights activistlawyer
    Biography

    Catalina Botero Marino is a Colombian attorney who served as the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) from 2008 to 2014. From 2016 to 2020, she was the Dean of the Law School of the University of Los Andes (Colombia). Since 2020 she is one of four co-chairs of Facebook's Oversight Board, a body that adjudicates Facebook's content moderation decisions.

  38. Rudolf Hommes

    Rudolf Hommes
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1943-.. (age 82)
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    Rudolf Hommes Rodríguez is a Colombian economist and politician who served as Minister of Finance and Public Credit under the administration of President César Gaviria, introducing various liberal policies in Colombia's Economy. He is also a regular columnist on various Colombian media outlets, focusing primarily on finances.

  39. Rodrigo Pardo García-Peña

    Rodrigo Pardo García-Peña
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1958-2024 (aged 66)
    Occupations
    journalist
    Biography

    Rodrigo Pardo García-Peña was a Colombian journalist, academic and diplomat. He was deputy director of El Tiempo, director of El Espectador, of the defunct magazine Cambio. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs and ambassador of Colombia to Venezuela and France. He was the grandson of Roberto García-Peña, cousin of Roberto Posada García-Peña and Daniel García-Peña.

  40. Sabas Pretelt de la Vega

    Sabas Pretelt de la Vega
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1946-.. (age 79)
    Occupations
    politiciandiplomateconomist
    Biography

    Sabas Pretelt de la Vega is a Colombian economist and businessman, who served as Colombian Minister of the Interior and Justice, and Ambassador to the Colombian missions in Italy, Greece, Cyprus, San Marino, and Malta. He was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison in April 2015 for corruption after the Yidispolítica scandal where Yidis Medina supposedly took a bribe from Pretelt. He was released in April 2018 under good behavior, in which he set up an education system for the soldiers in the naval base he was detained in.

  41. Mariana Garcés Córdoba

    Mariana Garcés Córdoba
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Occupations
    lawyerpolitician
    Biography

    Mariana Garcés Córdoba is the 9th Minister of Culture of Colombia. A native of Santiago de Cali, she has been tied to the region and its culture, including working as General Manager of Telepacífico, Member of the National Television Commission, Director of the Association for the Promotion of the Arts, in Cali, Secretary of Culture and Tourism of Cali, Executive Director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Valle del Cauca, and at different times, Director of the International Art Festival of Cali.

  42. Efraín Cepeda

    Efraín Cepeda
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1950-.. (age 75)
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    Efraín José Cepeda Sarabia is a Colombian businessman and politician. He is a member of the Conservative Party and has been elected to the Senate of Colombia eight consecutive times since 1994. He held the position of President of the Senate between 2017 and 2018.

  43. Frank Pearl González

    Frank Pearl González
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1962-.. (age 63)
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    Frank Joseph Pearl González is a Colombian economist. He served as the 1st Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development serving in the administration of President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, and as the 1st High Presidential Advisor for the Social and Economic Reintegration of People and Groups Up in Arms during the administration of President Álvaro Uribe Vélez between 2006 and 2010 during which time he was also entrusted the office of High Commissioner for Peace in replacement of Luis Carlos Restrepo Ramírez, until his resignation from both posts in 2010.

  44. Yaneth Giha Tovar

    Yaneth Giha Tovar
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    20th Century
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    Yaneth Giha Tovar is an economist and politician who served as the Colombian Minister of Education from 2016 to 2018. Yaneth Giha has also held the position of Director of Colcienas and Deputy Minister of Defence. Yaneth obtained an economics degree from University of Los Andes, and a master's degree from King's College London.

  45. Isaac Lee

    Isaac Lee
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1971-.. (age 54)
    Occupations
    journalist
    Biography

    Isaac Lee Possin is a Colombian journalist, entrepreneur and film & television producer. He is the founder and CEO of EXILE Content Studio, a media company developing premium original content for audiences across the U.S. and Latin America. Lee is also the Chairman of HYBE Latin America, a subsidiary of HYBE Corporation (HYBE) and comprises HYBE Latin America US, DOCEMIL Music, Zarpazo Entertainment, and AJÁ Podcasts. He previously served as Chief Content Officer for Univision Communications and Televisa, the world's largest Spanish-language media conglomerate. He founded StoryHouse Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based, scripted content development unit of Univision, which produces acclaimed scripted TV Series El Chapo (Netflix), as well as Outpost (HBO), Residente and Hate Rising docu-features.

  46. Gabriel Silva Luján

    Gabriel Silva Luján
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1957-.. (age 68)
    Occupations
    politiciandiplomateconomist
    Biography

    Gabriel Silva Luján is a Colombian diplomat and political scientist who served as the 33rd and 27th Ambassador of Colombia to the United States. He has also served as Minister of National Defence and as General Manager of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia.

  47. María Fernanda Campo

    María Fernanda Campo
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1956-.. (age 69)
    Occupations
    industrial engineerpolitician
    Biography

    María Fernanda Campo Saavedra is the former minister of education of Colombia until August 2014. In 2011 she was appointed Acting Mayor of Bogotá by President Juan Manuel Santos in replacement of Samuel Moreno Rojas, who was stripped of his office following an investigation into the appropriation of city contracts. An industrial engineer, before her nomination she was the President of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce from 2000 to 2010, the first woman to hold that position, and has also served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1998 and 1999.

  48. Cristián Samper

    Cristián Samper
    Born in
    Costa Rica Flag Costa Rica
    Years
    1965-.. (age 60)
    Occupations
    biologist
    Biography

    Cristián Samper is a Colombian-American tropical biologist specializing in conservation biology and environmental policy. He is the Managing Director and Leader of Nature Solutions at the Bezos Earth Fund. He served as President and CEO of WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) from 2012 to 2022. He was the Director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, the world's largest natural history collection, from 2003 to 2012, and served as acting Secretary of the Smithsonian from 2007 to 2008, the first Latin-American to hold the position. In April 2015, Samper was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

  49. Ana María Rey

    Ana María Rey
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1970s
    Occupations
    physicistacademic administrator
    Biography

    Ana Maria Rey is a Colombian theoretical physicist, professor at University of Colorado at Boulder, a JILA fellow, a fellow at National Institute of Standards and Technology and a fellow of the American Physical Society. Rey was the first Hispanic woman to win the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in 2019. In 2023, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. She is currently the chair of DAMOP, the American Physical Society's division in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.

  50. Alexandra Olaya Castro

    Alexandra Olaya Castro
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1976-.. (age 49)
    Occupations
    university teacherresearchertheoretical physicistscientist
    Biography

    Alexandra Olaya-Castro is a Colombian-born theoretical physicist, currently a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London.

  51. Juanita León

    Juanita León
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1970-.. (age 55)
    Occupations
    journalist
    Biography

    Juanita León García is a Colombian journalist, writer, and public speaker. She is best known as the founder and director of the news website La Silla Vacía.

  52. Guillermo Botero Nieto

    Guillermo Botero Nieto
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1948-.. (age 77)
    Occupations
    lawyertrade unionist
    Biography

    Lorenzo Guillermo Botero Nieto is a Colombian lawyer, businessman, lecturer, and politician. He was appointed as Minister of Defense between 2018 and November 2019.

  53. J. G. Cobo Borda

    J. G. Cobo Borda
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1948-2022 (aged 74)
    Occupations
    writerpoetjournalistdiplomat
    Biography

    Juan Gustavo Cobo Borda was a Colombian poet and literary critic. He was born in Bogota and studied literature at university. He worked extensively in cultural and literary fields, for example, as a founder and editor of various cultural journals including the poetry magazine Eco. He was also a diplomat. He served as cultural attaché in Buenos Aires in the 1980s, and in the same role in Madrid in the 1990s. His diplomatic career reached its peak when he was appointed ambassador to Greece.

  54. Jaime Bermúdez

    Jaime Bermúdez
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1966-.. (age 59)
    Occupations
    politiciandiplomatlawyer
    Biography

    Jaime Bermúdez Merizalde is a Colombian lawyer and diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia from 2008 to 2010.

  55. Carolina Soto Losada

    Carolina Soto Losada
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    Carolina Soto Losada is the former High Presidential Counsellor for Government, Private Sector and Competitiveness of Colombia. Before holding that position, she was Deputy Minister of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia. She is married to Alejandro Gaviria Uribe, the former Minister of Health and Social Protection of Colombia.

  56. Ricardo Lozano Picón

    Ricardo Lozano Picón
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1968-.. (age 57)
    Occupations
    politician
    Biography

    Ricardo José Lozano Picón is a Colombian geologist and politician who was the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development from 2018 to 2020. He has also served as Director of the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies from 2008 to 2013.

  57. Melba Escobar

    Melba Escobar
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1976-.. (age 49)
    Occupations
    journalistwriter
    Biography

    Melba Escobar de Nogales is a Colombian writer and journalist.

  58. Andrés Julián Rendon

    Andrés Julián Rendon
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1978-.. (age 47)
    Enrolled in the University of the Andes, Colombia
    2007-2008 graduated with master's degree in economy
    Occupations
    university teacherbusiness administrationeconomistpolitician
    Biography

    Andrés Julián Rendon Cardona is a Colombian politician and public administrator. From 2001 to 2006 he was a councilor of Rionegro, from 2008 to 2011 as Secretary of the Government of Rionegro. He would later serve as Mayor of Rionegro from 2016 to 2019, and most recently elected as Governor of Antioquia, during the 2023 Colombian regional elections.

  59. Jorge Iván González

    Jorge Iván González
    Years
    1959-.. (age 66)
    Occupations
    economistphilosopher
    Biography

    Jorge Iván González Borrero is a Colombian philosopher, economist and university professor. From August 2022 to February 2024 he served as Director of the National Planning Department, the third most important cabinet-level position in the National Government.

  60. Tomás González Estrada

    Tomás González Estrada
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1971-.. (age 54)
    Occupations
    economist
    Biography

    Tomás González Estrada is a Colombian economist. He was an Economic Counselor in the government of Andrés Pastrana Arango and the Minister of Mines and Energy in the second government of Juan Manuel Santos. On 7 March 2016, his resignation from the position was accepted due to the country's energy crisis by El Niño 2015-16 and the fire at Guatape power plant.

  61. Fanny Sanín

    Fanny Sanín
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1938-.. (age 87)
    Occupations
    painter
    Biography

    Fanny Sanín Sader is a Colombian born artist from Bogotá who resides in New York City. The daughter of Gabriel Sanín Tobón and Fanny Sader Guerra, she is best known for her paintings of abstract geometric forms and colors. She is considered to be part of the second generation of abstract artists from Colombia.

  62. Juan Gabriel Uribe Vegalara

    Juan Gabriel Uribe Vegalara
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1961-.. (age 64)
    Occupations
    politicianjournalistlawyer
    Biography

    Juan Gabriel Uribe Vegalara is a Colombian Conservative Party politician and journalist. He served as the 2nd Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia from 2012 to 2013, and as Senator of Colombia from 1998 to 2002. An award-winning journalist, he was Editor-in-chief of El Nuevo Siglo before his appointment as Minister.

  63. Mauricio Santa María Salamanca

    Mauricio Santa María Salamanca
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1966-.. (age 59)
    Occupations
    politicianeconomist
    Biography

    Mauricio Santamaría Salamanca is a Colombian economist and politician, who previously served as Director of the National Planning Department of Colombia. He served as the 3rd Minister of Social Protection during the Administration of President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón from 2010 until its restructuring amidst a wider Ministerial Reform when the Ministry was divided into separate Health and Labour ministries, being reappointed then as the 1st Minister of Health and Social Protection of Colombia until 2012 when he was reassigned. An economist from Georgetown University, Santa María has worked as a Consultant and Senior Economist for the World Bank, was Deputy Director of the National Planning Department, and prior to his appointment served as Adjunct Director of the Colombian Foundation of Higher Education and Development (Fedesarrollo).

  64. Blanca Inés Durán Hernández

    Blanca Inés Durán Hernández
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1971-.. (age 54)
    Occupations
    engineerpolitician
    Biography

    Blanca Inés Durán Hernández, is an industrial engineer and former Mayor of Chapinero. She is an openly lesbian politician and activist.

  65. Ana María Groot

    Ana María Groot
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1952-.. (age 73)
    Occupations
    anthropologistarchaeologisthistorian
    Biography

    Ana María Groot de Mahecha is a Colombian historian, archaeologist, anthropologist and associate professor at the Department of Anthropology of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Ana Mariá Groot speaks Spanish, English and French.

  66. Carlos Alfredo Urrutia Valenzuela

    Carlos Alfredo Urrutia Valenzuela
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1949-.. (age 76)
    Occupations
    politiciandiplomatlawyer
    Biography

    Carlos Alfredo Urrutia Valenzuela was the 34th Ambassador of Colombia to the United States.

  67. Rafael Moure-Eraso

    Rafael Moure-Eraso
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1946-.. (age 79)
    Biography

    Rafael Moure-Eraso is a former chairman and chief executive of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB).

  68. Helena Groot de Restrepo

    Helena Groot de Restrepo
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1947-.. (age 78)
    Enrolled in the University of the Andes, Colombia
    Studied in 1966-1970
    1981-1984 graduated with Master of Science
    Occupations
    microbiologist
    Biography

    Helena Groot de Restrepo is a Colombian microbiologist and geneticist.

  69. Carolina Caycedo

    Carolina Caycedo
    Born in
    United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom
    Years
    1978-.. (age 47)
    Enrolled in the University of the Andes, Colombia
    In 1999 graduated with licentiate in fine art
    Occupations
    artistsculptor
    Biography

    Carolina Caycedo is a multimedia artist based in Los Angeles.

  70. Juan Pablo Plata Figueroa

    Juan Pablo Plata Figueroa
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1982-.. (age 43)
    Occupations
    poetliterary criticnovelistwriterjournalist
    Biography

    Juan Pablo Plata is a Colombian writer, journalist and researcher.

  71. Beatriz González

    Beatriz González
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1938-.. (age 87)
    Occupations
    paintercuratorart criticart historiansculptor
    Biography

    Beatriz González is a Colombian painter, sculptor, critic, curator and art historian. González is often associated with the Pop Art movement. She is best known for her bright and colorful paintings depicting life in Colombia during the war-torn period known as La Violencia.

  72. Martha Rojas Urrego

    Martha Rojas Urrego
    Occupations
    ecologistbiologist
    Biography

    Martha Rojas Urrego is a biologist, ecologist and humanitarian, gender and environmental advocate. She is a Colombian and French national. In August 2016 she was appointed as the Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Previously she was Head of Global Advocacy and Acting Deputy Secretary General at humanitarian organization CARE International.

  73. Marisol Aguilera

    Marisol Aguilera
    Born in
    Venezuela Flag Venezuela
    Years
    20th Century
    Occupations
    biologistprofessor
    Biography

    Marisol Aguilera Meneses is a Venezuelan biologist whose research involves the ecology of vertebrates. She is the president of the Venezuelan Association for the Advancement of Science (AsoVAC) and the International Organization Interciencia, which brings together associations for the advancement of science from all over the Americas.

  74. Nirma Zárate

    Nirma Zárate
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1936-1999 (aged 63)
    Occupations
    painter
    Biography

    Nirma Zárate Mejía was a Colombian artist, professor, and researcher famously known for her abstract works. Zárate was born in Bogotá, Colombia. She grew up in Colombia during World War II. The war had many implications on Colombian lifestyle and politics at the time. Colombia first supported the Axis powers and was in a constant state of shifting between its military powers and societal aspects due to U.S. intervention. Colombia finally shifted to supporting the allies after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During this time, Colombia was in a severe state of poverty, where impoverished children roamed the streets in high numbers and were called gamines. During this time, discrimination and violence from police towards impoverished children were extremely high. Zárate experimented with different mediums and styles, such as Abstract Art or Pop Art. Her first exhibition was as a student in Bogotá and shortly after, she moved to the United States where she lived for four years. She settled in Washington where she was chosen by Union Panamericana De Washington to participate in an exhibition of great Colombian art. Later in her career, Zárate was one of the co-directors of Taller 4 Rojo, a collective of Colombian artists interested in representing the political and social reality of Colombia. Her art during this period in her life turned shifted to more politically active art. She also taught at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia for many years. Zárate died in her hometown of Bogotá, in 1999, at the age of sixty-three.

  75. Rafael Francisco Amador Campos

    Rafael Francisco Amador Campos
    Born in
    Colombia Flag Colombia
    Years
    1948-.. (age 77)
    Occupations
    politiciandiplomatlawyer
    Biography

    Rafael Francisco Amador Campos is a Colombian lawyer and politician, who is currently serving as the Ambassador of Colombia to Russia. As a Liberal party politician, he served in Congress as Representative for Cundinamarca on two separate periods of two terms each, first from 1982 to 1990, and then from 1998 to 2006. He was twice elected Senator of Colombia for the same legislative period, first in 1990, and then again in 1991 following the ratification of the 1991 Constitution, and served until 1994.