María Paz Arzola
María Paz Arzola | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Education | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2026 | |
| President | José Antonio Kast |
| Preceded by | Nicolás Cataldo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 December 1986 |
| Party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (B.Sc) (M.Sc) |
| Occupation | Economist • Professor • Politician |
María Paz Arzola González (Santiago, 5 December 1986) is a Chilean commercial engineer and politician.[1]
In January 2026, she was appointed Minister of Education by president-elect José Antonio Kast, assuming office on 11 March of the same year.[2]
Biography
She studied Commercial Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC), graduating in 2010 with a specialization in Economics.[3] Between 2010 and 2011, she completed a Master’s degree in Economics at the same institution. She also holds a Master’s degree in Political Philosophy and Ethics from Adolfo Ibáñez University (UAI).[3]
After graduating in 2010, she joined the think tank Libertad y Desarrollo (LyD), where she worked for nearly six years as a researcher in the Economic and Social Program, with a focus on social policy and education. During this period, she participated as a speaker in seminars and public forums, engaged in policy debates, and acted as a media spokesperson on related issues.[3]
From 2013 to 2020, she served as an adjunct instructor at the Department of Industrial Engineering of the PUC. In 2013, she was part of the policy team for the presidential campaign of Evelyn Matthei.[3]
Following her departure from LyD in 2016, she worked as Head of Studies at Vinos de Chile. In March 2018, she returned to LyD, where she currently serves as coordinator of the Social Program.[3]
In 2024 and 2025, she was a member of the technical committee tasked with reviewing and analyzing Chile's School Admission System.[3]
References
- ^ "Dos tercios son independientes y promedian 54 años: Este es el gabinete que presentó José Antonio Kast para su gobierno". EMOL (in Spanish). 20 January 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ "María Paz Arzola (Ind): las definiciones de la futura ministra de educación sobre el FES". La Tercera (in Spanish). 21 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f "Quién es y qué piensa María Paz Arzola, la candidata que corre con ventaja para el Ministerio de Educación de Kast" (in Spanish). Ex-Ante. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.