Macario Saldate was born in Nogales, Arizona and completed his undergraduate and graduate (Bachelors, Master's and Ed.D) work in education at the University of Arizona and was a professor and administrator from 1972 to 2009. He was the fourth and longest serving (20 years) director of the UA Guadalajara Summer School and founding director of the UA Bilingual Education Program. He founded the UA Mexican American Studies and Research Center in 1981.
Dr. Saldate served on the Pima Community College District Governing Board from 1973 to 1979 and was selected to the Arizona House of Representatives from Legislative District 27 in 2010. He serves on the Government and Higher Education Committee, as well as the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.