Cecilia María Vélez

Cecilia María Vélez White (born 1952) is a Colombian economist, politician and business executive. She served as Colombia's Secretary of Education (from 1998) and Minister of Education from 2002 to 2010. Since 2011, she has been President of Jorge Tadeo Lozano University. In April 2021, she was appointed an independent board member of the Colombian petroleum company Ecopetrol.

Biography Born in 1952 in Frontino, Antioquia, Cecilia María Vélez White is the daughter of the engineer Juvenal Vélez Correa and his wife the politician Gabriela White de Vélez (1913–1991). She was one of four children.

Vélez embarked on her political career in 1993 when she served at Colombia's National Planning Department. From October 1994, she spent a year as economic advisor at the Embassy of Colombia, London. Vélez has also been active in business and banking. She has held executive posts at Colombia's National Bank and has served on several boards of directors. In April 2021, she was appointed an independent member of Ecopetrol's board of directors.