February 12, 2026. Melania Brenes Monge, Ph.D., has officially assumed the role of Executive Director of the National System for Higher Education Accreditation (Sistema Nacional de Acreditación de la Educación Superior – SINAES) of Costa Rica. Dr. Brenes was appointed by the National Accreditation Council on December 5, 2025, as recorded in Minute No. 1909.
The new Executive Director of SINAES brings a broad and distinguished profile in the design, research, and evaluation of educational projects. She is a psychologist and educator specializing in psycho-pedagogy, educational technology, and project management. Throughout her career, she has served as a university professor, researcher, and evaluator. Furthermore, she previously served as Executive Director of the Uladislao Gámez Solano Professional Development Institute, Academic Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), and most recently, Academic Vice President of EduTech Central America.
She maintains an active role in the international sphere, participating in expert groups focused on education, innovation, and professional teacher development.
Article 13 of Act No. 8256 establishes that:
“SINAES shall have a Director appointed by the Council on a full-time basis for a period of five years. They may be re-elected for equal and successive periods indefinitely and must meet the same requirements as the members of the Council. The Council, by agreement, may remove them from office at any time for proven non-compliance with their duties, which shall be defined by said Council.”
SINAES is the institution to which the Costa Rican State, through Acts No. 8256 and No. 8798, has granted the authority to contribute to the permanent improvement of Higher Education quality by evaluating, for accreditation purposes, the undergraduate and graduate programs that voluntarily decide to submit to its rigorous process.