Miguel Hernández Agosto
Encyclopedia
Miguel Hernández Agosto is a Puerto Rican
politician whose service in government has spanned several generations.
Finished his bachelor studies at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
. Then, went to Michigan where he graduated from Michigan State University
with a Masters degree and from University of Michigan
with a PhD. Years later, he concluded his studies with a JD from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
. He is a member of the Latino fraternity Phi Iota Alpha
, the oldest inter-collegiate Greek-letter organization established for Latino Americans.
Hernández Agosto served as Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture
in the 1960s under the governorships of Luis Muñoz Marín
and Roberto Sánchez Vilella
.
In the 1970s, he entered elective politics as a Senator at-large. In 1981 he became the Senate of Puerto Rico
's ninth President, a position he held for 12 years. In 1993, after the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
's defeat in the 1992 elections, he became the Senate Minority Leader of his party until 1996.
A Democrat at the national level, after winning a bruising reorganization primary campaign in 1988 against former Governor Carlos Romero Barceló
, he became State Chair of the Democratic Party of Puerto Rico, a post he held until 1992.
Within his local party, after former Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
's defeat in 1976, he became party president, a post he held until the former Governor decided to run for Governor in 1980, which incumbent Gov. Romero narrowly won.
Hernández Agosto is currently a part-time law professor at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
School of Law and practices law. In 2008, he chaired then-Gov. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
's unsuccessful reelection campaign.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
politician whose service in government has spanned several generations.
Finished his bachelor studies at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
. Then, went to Michigan where he graduated from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
with a Masters degree and from University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
with a PhD. Years later, he concluded his studies with a JD from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
The Inter American University of Puerto Rico —or Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in Spanish, and often referred as "Inter"— is a private university system in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1912 in San German, Puerto Rico. The University has campuses in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas,...
. He is a member of the Latino fraternity Phi Iota Alpha
Phi Iota Alpha
Phi Iota Alpha , established December 26, 1931, is the oldest Latino fraternity still in existence, and works to motivate people, develop leaders, and create innovative ways to unite the Latino community. The organization has roots that stem back to the late 19th century to the first Latino...
, the oldest inter-collegiate Greek-letter organization established for Latino Americans.
Hernández Agosto served as Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture
Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture
The Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture is one of the few Cabinet-level government agencies explicitly created by the Constitution of Puerto Rico as the Department of "Agriculture and Commerce", most of the commerce at the time of its enactment being agriculture-based...
in the 1960s under the governorships of Luis Muñoz Marín
Luis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
and Roberto Sánchez Vilella
Roberto Sánchez Vilella
Roberto Sánchez Vilella was the second Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1965 to 1969. He was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
.
In the 1970s, he entered elective politics as a Senator at-large. In 1981 he became the Senate of Puerto Rico
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
's ninth President, a position he held for 12 years. In 1993, after the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
's defeat in the 1992 elections, he became the Senate Minority Leader of his party until 1996.
A Democrat at the national level, after winning a bruising reorganization primary campaign in 1988 against former Governor Carlos Romero Barceló
Carlos Romero Barceló
Carlos Antonio Romero Barceló is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001, making him one of the more successful...
, he became State Chair of the Democratic Party of Puerto Rico, a post he held until 1992.
Within his local party, after former Governor Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
's defeat in 1976, he became party president, a post he held until the former Governor decided to run for Governor in 1980, which incumbent Gov. Romero narrowly won.
Hernández Agosto is currently a part-time law professor at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
The Inter American University of Puerto Rico —or Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in Spanish, and often referred as "Inter"— is a private university system in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1912 in San German, Puerto Rico. The University has campuses in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas,...
School of Law and practices law. In 2008, he chaired then-Gov. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the eighth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law,...
's unsuccessful reelection campaign.