PORTLAND, ORE: Olga Sanchez, artistic director of Milagro (known in English as Miracle Theatre Group), has announced that she will leave her post in September after 12 years of service. Sanchez will next pursue a doctorate in theatre arts at the University of Oregon.

“Milagro has been a tremendous artistic home,” said Sanchez in a statement. “I’ve grown immensely through the work, and it will be hard to step away.”

Sanchez first came to Milagro in 2003. Under her leadership, Milagro strengthened its Spanish-language theatre program. Sanchez also raised the theatre’s profile nationally, through her participation on the board of Theatre Communications Group (the national service organization and publisher of American Theatre) and the Latina/o Theatre Commons, a project of HowlRound at Emerson College.

In addition to leading the company, Sanchez wore multiple hats as a director, playwright and actor. She has directed a number of world premieres, including Boomcracklefly by Charise Castro Smith, Guapa by Caridad Svich and Yemaya’s Belly by Quiara Alegría Hudes.

Sanchez also created original work, most recently ¡O Romeo!, a mashup of William Shakespeare with Aztec culture. She is currently developing Broken Promises, a new play for the Teatro Milagro national touring company, which tackles the topic of sex trafficking in Oregon. As an actor, Sanchez played Jocasta in Oedipus el Rey and Mary in Learn To Be Latina.

“Olga has brought brains, breadth and beauty to Milagro and the communities that it serves, and her many contributions will be impossible to replace,” said Milagro executive director and founder Jose Gonzalez in a statement. “And while I will personally miss her, as a friend and colleague, I know that her future will be bright and that she will continue her creative life on a new stage, one that will be graced by her presence.”

Milagro recently announced its 32nd season, which will include a new play by Karen Zacarias, directed by Sanchez.