Mercedes Cabrera Calvo-Sotelo, GCIH (born 3 December 1951) is a Spanish politician, political scientist, historian, and minister.

She is married to Carlos Arenillas, vice-president of the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV, Spanish National Stock Exchange Commission) and has two children.

She was chosen as chair of the Parliamentary committee on education and science in the Congress of the Deputies.

She is a member of the board of governors of the Pablo Iglesias Foundation and president of the Association of Friends of the "Residencia de Estudiantes".

On 7 April 2006 she was named Spanish minister of education and science by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Position she held until April 2009 when she was substituted by Ángel Gabilondo.