Juan Carlos Mendoza García

Juan Carlos Mendoza García (San José, 7 July 1975) is a Costa Rican politician and the country's current Ambassador to the United Nations. He was a deputy with the Citizens' Action Party (PAC for its Spanish initials) during the 2010 to 2014 and served as President of the Legislative Assembly from 2011 to 2012.

Early life and academics Mendoza is the son of Rolando Mendoza Hernández, a biologist and conservationist, and Nelly García Murillo, a professor of literature. Mendoza studied political science at the University of Costa Rica. As a student, he was disillusioned with the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC for its Spanish initials) and the National Liberation Party (PLN for its Spanish initials), the two ruling parties of Costa Rica. As such, he became involved with Gente U, a leftist student group. In 1996, he traveled to Switzerland to work on an ecumenical council associated with the World Council of Churches. That same year, he traveled to Germany as a volunteer with the Hendrik Kraemer Haus, helping refugees. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a Master's in communication.

Public service career In 1999, Mendoza began working for the National Ombudsman's office. Running against Luis Guillermo Solís, Epsy Campbell Barr, and Ronald Solís Bolaños, Mendoza gained only 113 fewer votes than Solís. The primary campaign was hotly contested but not bitter. Solís considered Mendoza as a vice presidential