María Eugenia García Elected as New Rector of Bolivia's UMSA University

María Eugenia García has been elected as the new rector of the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), Bolivia's most important university, becoming only the second woman to democratically win the position in the institution's history. García, representing the Movimiento Académico Universitario (MAU) front, secured 61.79% of the weighted student-faculty vote in the second round of elections held on Tuesday.

The newly elected rector defeated Óscar Heredia of the 100% UMSA formula, who received 35.46% of the support. García's running mate, Tito Estévez Martini, was elected as the new vice-rector. The Electoral Committee, led by Guillermo Mariaca, reported that the electoral day proceeded without any incidents and delivered the results on Tuesday night after conducting the vote count.

Why this matters: The election of María Eugenia García as UMSA's rector signifies a noteworthy achievement for gender equality in Bolivia's higher education system. As only the second woman to be democratically elected to this position, García's victory emphasizes the advancements made in overcoming obstacles and increasing representation in leadership roles within the country's most prestigious university.

In her victory speech, García stated that the election results represent a call from students and faculty to recover and transform the university. She expressed her commitment to working towards excellence and ensuring the best conditions for students. The outgoing rector, Heredia, congratulated García on her win. It is important to recognize that García had previously served as Heredia's vice-rector but broke the alliance in 2022 following the expulsion of two UMSA students.

The newly elected authorities, including García and Estévez, are expected to be sworn in on May 2, 2024. Estévez pledged to work together with students, faculty, and administrative staff to advance the university. The Electoral Committee will submit a final report to the University Council by April 30 for consideration and proclamation of the winning formula.

The Universidad Mayor de San Andrés also awarded an honorary doctorate to Ramiro Moreno Baldivieso, a distinguished professor of law, in recognition of his esteemed career and contributions to the institution. The outgoing rector, Walter Montaño, and vice-rector, Javier Tapia, will continue to serve until the new authorities assume their positions next month.

Key Takeaways

• María Eugenia García elected as new rector of UMSA, Bolivia's top university.
• García is only the second woman to win the position democratically.
• García's running mate, Tito Estévez Martini, elected as new vice-rector.
• Election proceeded without incident, as reported by the Electoral Committee.
• UMSA also awarded an honorary doctorate to Ramiro Moreno Baldivieso.