Santiago, Chile | c. 1888
Photo by Laura Sandoval
The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (UC) is one of six Catholic universities in the Chilean higher education system. Among Chile’s oldest universities, it was founded in 1888 by the archbishop of Santiago to offer training exclusively in law, math, and the physical sciences.
It has since blossomed and expanded across all disciplines, in large part due to the vision of Monsignor Carlos Casanueva, who in 1920 initiated coed admission. In his view, UC was to serve as a “beacon of truth,” one which had the duty to enlighten. Truth, enlightenment, and fulfilling the nation’s needs began by his opening the door to women.