María Eugenia Mella Gajardo

María Eugenia Mella Gajardo (born 4 March 1952) is a Chilean politician who served as deputy.

Biography She was born in Parral on 4 March 1952. She is the daughter of Camilo Alfonso Mella Carrasco and Alicia del Carmen Gajardo. She was married to Hugo Romualdo Recabal Barrueto. She is the sister of Luis Alberto Mella Gajardo, mayor of Quillota since 1992.

Professional career She completed her secondary education at the Liceo de Niñas de Quillota in 1969. She later enrolled in the School of Nursing at the University of Chile (Valparaíso campus), where she qualified as a nurse.

Professionally, she worked in the Public Health Service of Valparaíso and served as a lecturer in the Nursing program at the University of Chile (Valparaíso campus). She also worked as a nursing instructor at the Zipter Technical Training Center.

In 2007 and 2009 she served as a legislative, coordination, and follow-up adviser on matters related to FONADIS for the Undersecretariat of Planning of the Ministry of Social Development.

Political career She served as head of the Social Department of the Intendancy of Valparaíso. Between 1991 and 1994 she was Regional Director of the National Women's Service (SERNAM) for the Valparaíso Region.

From 1994 to 2000 she served as Regional Ministerial Secretary (SEREMI) of National Assets in the Valparaíso Region.