THE FORMER dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) has been appointed chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHEd) expert body for foreign languages, joining other UST professors named to various panels.
Prof. Marilu Madrunio, who pioneered the English Language Studies program in Artlets, will spearhead efforts to provide technical expertise that will guide CHEd in crafting policies for higher education programs.
CHEd technical panel chairpersons and members are also tasked with developing guidelines and criteria for identifying centers of development and excellence in higher educational institutions.
Madrunio will serve a four-year term from Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2028.
“In a globalized world where mobility is at work, learning a foreign language will certainly benefit our learners,” the former Artlets dean told the Varsitarian.
“Learners get to see the world from different perspectives. It is also an advantage, especially for those who wish to establish career prospects abroad and build connections with people from around the world,” she added. “Thus, students are given options as they prepare for their future.”
Prior to the appointment, Madrunio was board adviser of the Linguistics Society of the Philippines. She was a member of CHEd’s defunct technical committee for the English language.
In UST, Madrunio chaired the Department of Languages and the Department of English and served as dean of the Graduate School before taking the helm of Artlets. She specializes in English and forensic linguistics.
Meanwhile, UST’s Pharmacy Dean, Prof. Aleth Dacanay, leads the CHEd technical panel for pharmacy, serving the third year of her four-year term.
CHEd panel members
Prof. Patricia Empleo, dean of the UST-AMV College of Accountancy, was named to the CHEd technical panel for accountancy. Prof. Rey Donne Papa, dean of the College of Science, joined the panel for biology, microbiology, and molecular biology.
UST’s Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Cheryl Peralta, was named to the technical panel for physical therapy education. Prof. Emeritus Maribel Nonato, assistant to the rector for UST General Santos, was appointed to the chemistry technical panel.
Prof. Ma. Frieda Hapan, pharmacy assistant dean, was appointed to the medical technology and public health education technical panel, while Prof. Camilla Vizconde, assistant dean of the UST Graduate School, joined the technical panels for graduate teacher education and foreign languages.
College of Rehabilitation Sciences department chairs Asst. Prof. Kathelene Hernandez and Asst. Prof. Judith Damian were appointed to the occupational therapy education and speech-language pathology education technical panels, respectively.
The other College of Science faculty members named to CHEd panels were: Prof. Mary Beth Maningas (marine science), Prof. Donnie Ramos and Prof. Thomas Edison de la Cruz (biology, microbiology, and molecular biology), and Assoc. Prof. Ma. Ninia Calaca (distance learning). Retired faculty member Assoc. Prof. Angelina Silverio will serve on the physics technical panel.
Assoc. Prof. Oliver Villaflores of the Faculty of Pharmacy was designated to the technical panel for chemistry.
Artlets faculty members picked by the CHEd were: Prof. Robert Montaña (philosophy), Prof. John Jack Wigley (literature), retired Prof. Belen Tangco (transnational education and distance learning), and Prof. Clarence Batan and Asst. Prof. Louie Ignacio (sociology).
