The First Mexican Woman Geologist

Abstract

Abstract

The first engineering major in Mexico (in industrial engineering) was established in 1883 in the National School of Engineers. In 1900 there were 250 male engineering students in the country and 30 years passed until it had the first woman graduate in engineering. On October 7, 1950, JOSEFA CUEVAS DE SANSORES was the first female to graduate as a Geological Engineering and was the 15th woman to graduate from the School of Engineering at National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

JOSEFA CUEVAS DE SANSORES was born on March 24, 1920 in Merida, Yucatan. She was the youngest of four sisters, always distinguished for being ahead of her time. She married Enrique Sansores Manzanilla at a very young age. Both decided to study geology and moved to Mexico City to enroll in the School of Engineering at National University in 1944.

She was an outstanding student, won the first medal for Merit at the University for a geology major. While still a student, she started working at the Paleontology Department in the Exploration area of PEMEX as an assistant paleontologist. Her outstanding work lead her to become a specialist in planktonic and benthic foraminifera of the Tertiary. She was known for her dedication and discipline at work with a great human sense and always kind to the staff around her. She retired in 1978 and moved to Cuernavaca with her husband. In 1990 the Mexican Geological Society recognized her for her contribution to the science. Mrs. Sansores passed away in 2010 leaving behind a vast legacy to the science, and as an elegant and impeccable lady, mother, grandmother, wife and geologist.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90260 © 2016 AAPG/SEG International Conference & Exhibition, Cancun, Mexico, September 6-9, 2016