Georgína María Antonsdætr

*This is a Velkanian name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name. The subject should be referred to by the given name* Georgína María*.*

**Georgína María Antonsdætr** (born 30 May 1964) is a Velkanian politician and educator who served as Minister of Education and Culture from 2012 to 2016. A Green-Agrarian, she also served in the Stádlink from 2008 to 2016.

Georgína María was born in Naríthjábæk, graduating from Davíd Daníelsson School in 1983. After finishing her high school education, Georgína María began studying biology at the University of Naríthjábæk, graduating in 1986. Afterwards, Georgína María entered a graduate program in education at the University of Velkania, graduating with her master's in education in 1988, finishing her education apprenticeship in the same year. After completing her education, Georgína María began working as a biology lecturer at Akuhólmur School in Naríthjábæk. In 1997, Georgína María began teaching biology at Naríthjábæk Junior College. Georgína María was elected to the Stádlink for the Green-Agararians in the 2008 election, representing the Capital Region constituency. Georgína María was later appointed Minister of Education and Culture by Síf María Vílhelmsdætr for her first cabinet in 2012, but left the position after the coalition between the Liberal-Democrats and Green-Agrarians collapsed in 2016.

Georgína María lost her seat in the 2016 election, and subsequently ended her political career. After leaving politics, she returned to education and was hired as Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Velkania.

## Early life and education

Georgína María was born on 30 May 1964 in Naríthjábæk to parents Anton Lérsson (born 1937) and Dýrfinna Mattíasdætr (born 1939). Both of her parents worked as educators, with her father being a mathematics lecturer at Davíd Daníelsson School, and her mother being a primary school teacher. Georgína María is the elder of two children and only daughter; her younger brother is Finnbjörn, born  (1966-02-17) 17 February 1966 (age 57).

Georgína María began her education in 1970, attending a local public primary school. She had wanted to become a teacher ever since childhood, being inspired by both of her parents. After graduating from primary school in 1980, Georgína María enrolled in Davíd Daníelsson School, where her father taught, to study a mathematics and natural sciences program, graduating in 1983. After graduating from high school, Georgína María was accepted to the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Naríthjábæk, graduating with a degree in biology in 1986. She afterwards began her graduate education, receiving her master's degree in education from the Faculty of Education at the University of Velkania in 1988.

During her final year of graduate school, Georgína María completed her education apprenticeship shadowing a biology lecturer at Akuhólmur School, completing the apprenticeship shortly before her graduation. She was afterwards hired by Akuhólmur School as a biology lecturer, where she worked for several years. In 1997, she left Akuhólmur and became a biology lecturer at Naríthjábæk Junior College.

## Political career

### Political beginnings

Georgína María was raised in a Social Democratic family, but became disillusioned with the party as a teenager due to the importance of environmental issues. She registered with the Green-Agrarian Party upon turning 16.

In 2008, Georgína María applied to stand as a candidate in the 2008 election in the Capital Region constituency of the Stádlink. She went on to be elected, and was reelected in 2012. Georgína María lost her seat in the 2016 election.

### Minister of Education and Culture

After the Liberal-Democrats won the 2012 election and Síf María Vílhelmsdætr secured a coalition agreement with the Green-Agrarian Party, it was announced by Síf María that she would be nominating Georgína María for the position of Minister of Education and Culture in her first cabinet. Ragnhildur IV formally appointed Georgína María as Minister of Education and Culture on 1 December 2012. The Liberal-Democrats won a majority of seats in the 2016 election, leading to the dissolution of the coalition government in favor of a single-party government of the Liberal-Democrats. Because of this, Georgína María lost her ministerial position.

## Post-political career

After losing her seat in the Stádlink in the 2016 election, Georgína María announced her retirement from politics, and subsequently left her political career. In February 2017, she was hired by the University of Velkania to serve as dean of the Faculty of Education, of which she is an alumni.

## Personal life

Georgína María began a relationship with Velkanian police officer Arnór Lúdvígsson in 1989. They became engaged in 1992, and married the following year. Georgína María has stated that she and her husband do not agree on politics, and that Arnór is a registered member of the Conservative Party. They have three children together: Eyleifur, born  (1996-03-17) 17 March 1996 (age 27), Pál Ódinn, born  (1998-08-01) 1 August 1998 (age 25), and Lísabet, born  (2000-04-28) 28 April 2000 (age 23). Georgína María is a vegetarian.