Guantánamo.- The beginning of the 2026–2027 academic year in Guantánamo featured a tribute to the memory of Dr. José Antonio Machuca Rodríguez, a renowned educator, researcher, and mentor to generations of veterinarians, who passed away in 2023.
Machuca Rodríguez played a pivotal role in the development of higher education in the province. In 1977, he headed Guantánamo’s first higher education institution, which specialized in Agronomic Engineering and later became the forerunner of a university branch affiliated with the University of Oriente. He was also the founder and director of the Faculty of Agronomy in Sabaneta.
His work included developing academic programs, curricula, and teaching materials, as well as conducting research on animal health, nutrition, and agricultural technologies. He also participated in strategic initiatives aimed at increasing food and protein production in the region.
The author of numerous articles, pamphlets, and books, this distinguished Guantánamo educator received several important honors, including the José Tey Medal and the 30th Anniversary Medal of the Cuban Academy of Sciences.
He was also presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Cuban Association of Agricultural and Forestry Technicians and recognized as an Outstanding Leader by the Ministry of Higher Education.
In 2025, the University of Guantánamo posthumously awarded him an honorary doctorate. His scientific and educational legacy, highlighted by Venceremos, continues to serve as a benchmark for education, research, and development in Guantánamo.
Source: Venceremos
