José Vasconcelos

José Vasconcelos became the first head of the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) when it was created in 1921, under President Álvaro Obregón. He launched massive literacy campaigns, rural schools and popular libraries, and commissioned the murals of Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros that gave birth to Mexican muralism.

A philosopher and writer, he is also known for his book La raza cósmica and for the UNAM motto “Por mi raza hablará el espíritu”.