Susana Richa de Torrijos

Susana Richa de Torrijos (born 22 October 1924) is a Panamanian educator, essayist, and politician.

Susana Richa de Torrijos
Member of the National Assembly of Panama
Assumed office
1999
Governor of Panamá Province
In office
1994–1998
Minister of Education of Panama
In office
1981–1984
Personal details
Born (1924-10-22) 22 October 1924
Veraguas Province, Panama
Political partyDemocratic Revolutionary Party
Spouse(s)Hugo Torrijos
ChildrenHugo Torrijos Richa
Alma materComplutense University of Madrid
OccupationEducator, essayist, politician

Biography

Richa studied at the Normal School of Santiago, where she obtained the title of teacher.[1] She later qualified as a graduate in philosophy, a professor of Spanish at the University of Panama, and a PhD in philology at the Complutense University of Madrid.

As an educator, she was a Spanish teacher at the Normal School of Santiago, the Liceo de Señoritas, the Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua, and the University of Panama. She has served as director of the Spanish Department, dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Arts, and Education, member of the Editorial Board, member of the Board of Directors, academic vice-rector, and rector in charge of the University of Panama.

In the field of public education, Richa was National Supervisor of Spanish, Deputy Director and National Director of Secondary Education, National Director of Education, Vice Minister of Education, and Minister of Education of Panama from 1981 to 1984.[1][2] As an essayist, she has published two works: Compendio de literatura hispanoamericana y panameña and La educación panameña, situación, problemas y soluciones.

As a politician, during the government of Ernesto Pérez Balladares she was appointed governor of Panamá Province from 1994 to 1998,[2][3] when she resigned to be elected legislator of the National Assembly for the Democratic Revolutionary Party in 1999, and re-elected in 2004. She was vice president of the National Assembly on two occasions: 2001–2002 and 2006–2007.[2]

In December 1999 Richa was separated from her position of professor at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Panama under the Faúndes Law, which prohibited public officials from serving beyond age 75. She sued before the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice to reverse this, but was unsuccessful.[4] On 20 August 2007, she co-sponsored an initiative which successfully repealed the Faúndes Law.[5] In 2011 she received an award for 50 years of service with the University.[6]

Richa is married to Hugo Torrijos (brother of General Omar Torrijos Herrera) and had one son, politician Hugo Torrijos Richa, who died in 2010.[7] She is also the aunt of former President Martín Torrijos.[8]

References
  1. Pinilla V., Ana María (21 October 2016). "Panamá requiere un plan educativo estratégico" [Panama Requires a Strategic Education Plan]. La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  2. "Parliament de Panamá". Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  3. Pérez M., Antonio (20 October 1998). "Renunció Susana Richa" [Susana Richa Resigns]. La Crítica en Línea (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  4. "Ex ministra, separada de la UP" [Former minister, separated from the UP]. La Prensa (in Spanish). 16 May 2003. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  5. "Los longevos de la política" [The Longevity of Politics]. La Prensa (in Spanish). 6 January 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  6. Ettrick, Luz (13 December 2011). "Años de ardua labor educativa" [Years of Hard Educational Work]. Día a día (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  7. "Muere Hugo Torrijos" [Hugo Torrijos Dies]. La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). 21 December 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  8. "Familia Torrijos de luto por Hugo" [Torrijos Family Mourning For Hugo]. La Estrella de Panamá (in Spanish). 22 December 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
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