Carmen Julia de Echeverri

A Colombian educator who championed women's access to higher education in the 19th century.

Carmen Julia de Echeverri (1830–1905) was a Colombian educator and advocate for women’s rights. Born in Bogotá, she founded the Escuela Normal Femenina in 1867, the first teachers’ college for women in Colombia. Her work challenged the era’s gendered educational norms, which limited women to domestic roles. She also co-founded the Asociación de Mujeres Cultas, promoting literacy and professional training. Despite opposition, she expanded her school into a national model, training hundreds of female teachers. Her efforts laid the groundwork for modern Colombian education systems. Echeverri’s legacy is honored in Colombia’s National Museum of Education. Explore her story on Biblioteca Virtual or Britannica.