Carmen Leonor Rodríguez Bolaños (born 15 July 1949) is a Bolivian economist, politician, and trade unionist who served as a party-list member of the Chamber of Deputies from La Paz from 2010 to 2015. Raised in the mines of Quechisla, Rodríguez studied economics at the Higher University of San Andrés, during which time she involved herself in student activism. After leaving university, she dedicated herself to a long career in the private sector, only gaining prominence in trade unionism after entering retirement. She held roles within the National Confederation of Retirees and served as executive of Light, Strength, Telephones National Federation of Retirees from 2008 to 2010. In 2009, Rodríguez was nominated for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies, a product of the solid alliance between the Movement for Socialism and the country's leading retirees unions. Elected to represent La Paz, she primarily performed her parliamentary duties from the lower chamber's Social Policy Commission until the conclusion of her term in 2015. She was not nominated for reelection. Early life and career Early life and education Carmen Rodríguez was born on 15 July 1949 to Carlos Rodríguez and Elena Bolaños. Although born in La Paz, Rodríguez spent the majority of her childhood residing in the mining community of Quechisla, Potosí, where her father was employed as a mineworker in the service of the Quechisla Mining Company, a subsidiary of the . Her mother, likewise, also worked in the mines as a rural school professor. Rodríguez received only a primary education, completing up to fifth grade as part of the first class of students to attend Quechisla's newly founded schoolhouse. In 1965, Rodríguez left her family and moved back to La Paz to pursue higher education. She studied economics at the Higher University of San Andrés, during which time she became active in the student movement, first as a member of various student centers before later acceding the Local University Federation, where she performed secretarial tasks. Her involvement in student activism came during a period of political radicalism for the movement, oriented toward left-wing politics and social struggle. At a time of dictatorial rule in the country, such activism was often met with reprisals, and Rodríguez even endured arrest at one point. Career and trade unionism Shortly after leaving university, Rodríguez returned to the mines, where she briefly worked as a mathematics professor. Realizing the job wasn't for her, she