AFTER almost five decades of teaching, former Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Rosalinda Solevilla, retires from the University, and wants to concentrate on a food-making venture.
“Matanda na ako para magturo.” “Gusto ko namang mag-concentrate sa food business,” Solevilla told the Varsitarian.
Solevilla’s deanship ended last March.
A multiple degree holder, she said she wants to put up a branch of Pares-Pares, of which her daughter is a franchise holder, near the University “soon”.
“Nag-aabang lang ako ng magandang lugar pero gusto ko magtayo ng branch sa likod ng UST,” she said.
At present, Solevilla still works as consultant of a pharmaceutical company and works as a member of the technical committee of the Dangerous Drugs Board.
She has been teaching at the Faculty of Pharmacy for 47 years, serving the last six years as dean.
Solevilla has four degrees: bachelor’s degrees in Pharmacy (1957) and Medical Technology (1965); a master’s degree in Pharmacology (1980); and a doctorate in Pharmacy (1995). She received all her degrees from UST except her master’s degree which she earned from UP. To date, she remains to be the only Pharmacist in the country who is a holder of an MS in Pharmacology.
A topnotcher of the Pharmacy board exams, she was exempted in the 1965 Medical Technology board exams because of her performance in the previous board exams.
Always striving to be the best, the former dean attributes the attitude to her Thomasian education and her family—her two motivations.
“We were trained in school to compete with each other and aim for the top; at home papa expected much from us,” she said.
The Faculty’s staff attested to Solevilla’s drive for excellence.
“She expects us to do our best and we had to live up to her expectations,” said Asst. Dean Elena Manansala.
According to the faculty members, Solevilla “boosted the standards” of the Faculty by updating teaching methods and improving faculty profile.
Of the 106 faculty members, nine have obtained master’s degrees and one, Prof. Pricilla Torres will soon finish her doctorate.
Torres said the highlight of Solevilla’s performance as dean was the Level 3 accreditation of the Faculty’s Pharmacy department.
Based on records, there are only two colleges in the University whose departments reached the level: Pharmacy and the College of Science. It was also during Solevilla’s term that the Pharmacy department became a Center of Development.
“Dr. Solevilla has left a great legacy,” Torres said.
Torres will take over the position vacated by Solevilla after she finishes defending her dissertation next month. April Dawn Jennifer Adriatico
