Antonia Navarro

Antonia Navarro Huezo (San Salvador, 10 August 1870 – 22 December 1891) was a topographic engineer and teacher from El Salvador. She was the first woman in Central America to graduate from university, earning a PhD from the University of El Salvador in 1889.

Biography

Antonia Navarro Huezo was born in 1870 to Belisaro Navarro (an apothecary) and Marina Huezo. The family was intellectual and despite the death of her father in 1878, her desire for education continued to be supported by an uncle. During her time at university she had an affair with Alberto Sánchez Huezo, another student. She defended her thesis successfully on 20 September 1889, after thirteen hours of questioning. The news of her success was reported around the world.

Huezo's thesis defence and the award of a degree was national news and the president of El Salvador General Francisco Menéndez congratulated her in person and organised a celebratory concert. However, despite being the first woman to graduate from university in El Salvador, she was not allowed to teach there and instead was posted to teach younger women in San Salvador's high school. She is seen as an important feminist role model for women in the country. There is a mural dedicated to her in the theatre of the University of El Salvador.