Vicepresidenta (2018-2022) y Ministra de Relaciones Exteriores (2018) | Vice President (2018–2022) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2018)
She is an economist with bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, Sociology, and Political Science from the University of Costa Rica. She also holds master’s degrees in Advanced Management and Political Decision-Making Techniques and in International Development Cooperation. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by Brenau University in Georgia.
A founding member of the Citizens’ Action Party (PAC), she has been affiliated with the party since its creation in 2000. She served two terms in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly (2002–2006 and 2014–2018), led the party’s legislative caucus from 2003 to 2004, and served as party president from 2005 to 2009.
In 2018, she was elected Vice President of Costa Rica on the ticket headed by Carlos Alvarado, becoming the first Afro-descendant woman to hold the office anywhere in the Americas. She also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and led the National Plan for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Leadership.
She promoted the creation of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and served as its Chair from 2022 to 2024. She is also a founding member of the Global Coalition Against Systemic Racism and for Reparations.
Her work focuses on the rights of women, Afro-descendant and Indigenous peoples, social inclusion, human development, and gender equality.