During the first six months of 2003, a group of Alumni and Friends of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Educational System residing and working in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area diligently worked to create the Association of University of Puerto Rico Alumni and Friends Abroad (UPRAA). Members of this group included: Ms. Betty Paugh, Mr. Mario Acosta, Dra. Margarita Benítez, Ms. Sara Clemente, Ms. Grace Dewan, Mr. Tomás Esterrich, Ms. Nalini Lamba-Nieves, Dr. Jacob Lozada, Mr. Adán Rodríguez-Arroyo, Mr. Armando Valdés-Prieto, Mr. José Vega, Mr. Javier Vélez-Arrocho, and Ms. Loida Velilla. The most significant fact about our organization is that UPRAA is the first Alumni Association to include alumni from all the 11 campuses of the UPR Educational System.

During the second half of 2003, the organizational group established an interim Board of Directors, completed the incorporation of the Association, and submitted the application for tax exemption, as prescribed by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Finally, on November 24, 2003, at a reception held at the Hall of the Americas at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, DC, the President of the UPR Educational System and the UPRAA Interim Board of Directors officially launched the Association.

Since its inception, UPRAA has conducted activities and membership drives in consonance with its mission statement, purpose, goals, and objectives.