Nitza Morán

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, she graduated with honors from a private school in Santurce and was a member of the National Honor Society. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Assumption College in Massachusetts and a Master’s degree in Forensic Science with a concentration in criminalistics from the University of New Haven in Connecticut. Following her education, she returned to Puerto Rico to work at the Ponce School of Medicine on an investigative project regarding the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), where she achieved a publication in a microbiology journal. She later joined her family's business ventures in the Santurce area, where she gained experience in the business sector. She eventually became a community leader, focusing on the needs of low- and middle-income residents. For 19 years, she served as president of the La Placita Merchants Association, where she led community relief efforts following Hurricane Maria and during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the distribution of meals and assistance to the elderly. She also advocated for the designation of the historic district as a tourism zone. Elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico in November to represent the district of San Juan, Aguas Buenas, and Guaynabo, she is a member of the New Progressive Party (PNP) and advocates for statehood. As a legislator, she has focused on business environment reforms and social justice, including the passage of legislation to extend support to the families of police officers killed in the line of duty.