María de los Ángeles de Jesús was appointed Deputy District Director for the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on July 30, 2012.

As Deputy District Director, de Jesús supports the District Director in supervising the office’s administrative operations and in carrying out the agency’s mission of providing financial assistance, counseling, and management and technical assistance to small businesses in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

De Jesús began her career with the federal government at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Puerto Rico State Office, where she served for 27 years.  She has occupied such positions as Loan Specialist and Community Development Manager. During the last seven years, she held the title of Business and Cooperative Program Director for USDA Rural Development, managing a commercial loan guaranty program with a $25 million loan limit, as well as federal grants to create and save jobs through commercial initiatives.  Her background ranges from property valuation to the analysis of commercial financing structures or renewable energy projects, among others. 

Prior to joining the federal government, de Jesús taught several courses at the University of Puerto Rico’s Utuado Campus, and worked for a year and a half with the Puerto Rico Department of Education, teaching Algebra, Advanced Math and Vocational Agriculture. 

De Jesús is a graduate from the University of Puerto Rico’s Mayagüez Campus, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy, leading her to a career in business financing, cooperative development, and businesses related to the local production of food products.