THE LEADERSHIP change in the University has brought about a fresh revamp in key administrative and academic positions, and even the creation of new offices.
In some offices directly under the new Rector, the changes involved not only new appointments, but also a structural overhaul.
Former College of Science Dean Fortunato Sevilla III will now direct research and development under two new clusters: the natural and applied sciences under Science Prof. Christina Binag and cultural, educational, and social issues under Faculty of Arts and Letters assistant professor Alvin Ang.
Meanwhile, former research and development head Marilyn Mabini was named the new assistant to the rector for planning and development.
Serving as De la Rosa’s assistant in steering the University is Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P., the new vice-rector.
Tiong will only have one office under him, the office of the legal counsel, headed by lawyer Alvyn Dysangco. Tiong was formerly director of the Purchasing Office.
Under former rector Fr. Ernesto Arceo, O.P., the Office of the Vice-Rector supervised three offices: the UST Health Service, Human Resources Department (HRD), and the legal counsel.
This year, both the Health Service and HRD fall under the newly created Office for Administration headed by associate professor Pilar Romero.
The new Quality Management Office, headed by former Engineering regent Fr. Arthur Dingel, O.P., will also be under Romero. The Administration Office answers to De la Rosa.
Academic positions also saw changes with one faculty and two colleges getting new deans.
Former Artlets regent Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P. now sits at the helm of the Faculty of Sacred Theology. Former Research Center for Natural Science head Maribel Nonato now holds the College of Science deanship while Dean Minerva Cruz replaced Jose Ireneo as the new Accountancy dean.
Meanwhile, Fathers Pompeyo de Mesa, O.P., Joseto Bernadas, Jr., O.P., Franklin Beltran, O.P., and Julius Paul Factora, O.P. were named new regents of the Faculties of Civil Law, Arts and Letters, and Engineering and the College of Nursing, respectively.
Jacqueline Lopez is the new Civil Law secretary. Joel Sagut and architect Warren Maneja serve as the new secretaries of Ecclesiastical Faculties and College of Architecture, respectively.
Meanwhile, Fr. Filemon de la Cruz, Jr., O.P. is the new Vice-Rector for Religious Affairs. Dela Cruz replaced Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner, O.P.
De la Cruz also serves as director for both the Center for Campus Ministry and Institute of Religion.
Under the Office of the Vice-Rector for Finance, the Buildings and Grounds Office was renamed the Facilities and Management Office, and is now headed by the long-time UST treasurer, Fr. Roberto Pinto, O.P.
The Project Management Office has been replaced by the Office of the Comptroller, headed by Diomedes Yadao.
Artlets associate professor Joyce Arriola replaced assistant professor Irene Lising as the head of the Humanities department under the Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs.
The two offices under Academic Affairs, the Guidance and Counseling Office and the Educational Technology Center (EdTech) were given new directors.
Prof. Lucila Bance now heads the Guidance Office while associate professor Ninia Calaca is the new EdTech director, replacing Fr. Dionisio Cabezon O.P. and Fr. Winston Cabading, O.P., respectively.
Bance was the former Admissions Office head while Calaca headed the Project Management Office. Associate professor Mecheline Zonia Manalastas now directs the Admissions Office.
Retiring after 49 years as the University archivist, Fr. Fidel Villaroel, O.P. has handed over his position to Fr. Lucio Gutierrez, O.P. Villaroel has been the director of the University Archives since 1959.
John Jack Wigley, literature professor at the College of Rehabilitational Science moves up as the new Publishing House director after being an assistant to Jocelyn Calubayan. J. C. G. Cordon
