Luis Guillermo Solís

Upon graduation, for more than 30 years, he has been professor, researcher, and academic manager at the University of Costa Rica and the National University in Costa Rica. Also, he has been a visiting scholar at the Universities of Michigan and Florida in the United States.

President Solís’ contribution to public service has been based around the principles of peace, democracy, and sovereignty as pillars of the State. While serving to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he embraced this belief by cooperating with the negotiation and formulation of the peace plan in Central America (1986-1990) and becoming ambassador in Central American affairs and Director of Foreign Policy (1994-1998).

Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera is the 47th President of the Republic of Costa Rica.

Raised by a small-scale shoe manufacturer and the founder of the School of Education at the University of Costa Rica, his story embodies the values of the Costa Rican identity: hard work, education, environment preservation, and respect for peace, multiethnicity, pluriculturalism, and sovereignty.

In his early years, he lived in the east side of the capital city where he went to primary and high-school. He studied History at the University of Costa Rica and with the help of a scholarship, he attended Tulane University in the United States where he obtained a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies

Throughout his career he has worked in the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO), the Ibero-American General Secretariat, and the Foreign Service for Peace and Democracy Foundation. His worked has allowed him to publish more than 10 books and thousands of articles in journals.

After historically receiving more than 1.300.000 votes, he was elected the 47th President of the Republic of Costa Rica, swearing to guide his country towards development, inclusion, and social justice.

He is a proud father of six children and partner of Mercedes Peña Domingo.

Source: Biography provided by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Costa Rica to the United Nations.

Source: University Programs and Events Planning Resources, September 2017