THE UNIVERSITY has appointed new chairpersons for the English, history, journalism, and legal management departments in the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets).
Among the newly appointed chairpersons is Varsitarian publications adviser, Asst. Prof. Joselito Zulueta, who replaces Prof. Jeremaiah Opiniano.
Zulueta previously served as director of the UST Publishing House and as journalism coordinator before the program was elevated to department status at Artlets.
Zulueta, a former editor at the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the defunct Manila Chronicle, vowed to continue the initiatives started by previous chairs.
“The challenge for the journalism [department] is to keep up with its track record. We are the oldest journalism program. So in keeping with that legacy, with that heritage, we ought to continue our track record of excellence,” he said.
He said the department would undergo reassessment by the Asean University Network (AUN) in 2027.
“This year, we need to prepare all of the documentation to show that we deserve a renewal of the accreditation,” Zulueta said.
The journalism program, along with the communication program, was among the first in Artlets to be certified by the AUN-Quality Assurance.
Returning as chair of the legal management department is lawyer Teodoro Lorenzo Fernandez, succeeding Asst. Prof. Edelberto Bunquin, founding dean of the Divine Word College of Calapan School of Law.
Fernandez, a former Varsitarian managing editor, served as the program coordinator and inaugural chairperson when the legal management program was elevated to a department in 2024.
During Fernandez’s term, the department introduced a new elective on the Philippine legal and tax systems.
Asst. Prof. Joram Corcuera was named chair of the English department, a University-wide department under Artlets, succeeding Prof. Rachelle Lintao.
Corcuera, a researcher in language and literacy studies at the UST Research Center for Social Sciences and Education, serves as managing editor of the Asian Journal of English Language Studies.
Assoc. Prof. Arlene Calara was named chairperson of the Department of History, also a University-wide department, succeeding Assoc. Prof. Archie Resos.
Calara was director of the Office for Student Affairs from 2016 to 2017, social sciences department chair in 2012, and Artlets e-Learning specialist.
She was also a supervising teacher for Araling Panlipunan at UST Education High School.
The two departments, while housed in Artlets, handle general education courses across colleges and faculties. Tatyana Sabeerah R. Maranan with reports from Louisse Raye Shara C. Santos and Carlo Jose H. Ruga
