Jaime Benítez

1976 Simon Bolivar Award Recipient

Lecture Title: Toward Understanding the Historical Role of Latin America and Puerto Rico in its Relations with the United States: A Perspective for the Future

Jaime Benítez, born in Vieques, earned a law degree from Georgetown University (1931) and a Master of Arts from the University of Chicago (1938). He was a Puerto Rican author, academic, and U.S. Congressman (1973–1977). As the longest-serving chancellor and first president of the University of Puerto Rico, Benítez was a key figure in shaping modern Puerto Rico, particularly its higher education system. In 1976, he was awarded the Simon Bolivar Award.