THE UNIVERSITY has appointed Asst. Prof. Jaezamie Ong as the new director of the Office for Student Affairs, one of the 13 offices and academic units that saw leadership changes at the start of the year.
In a circular issued on Jan. 1, the Office of the Secretary General announced Ong’s appointment as OSA director after serving as its officer in charge for nearly a year.
Previously the assistant principal for student formation at UST Senior High School, Ong, also a Department of Literature faculty member, transitioned to the student affairs office after its former director, Asst. Prof. Maria Cecilia Tio Cuison, went on medical leave.
Cuison, who had led the OSA since 2021, left at the height of the TomasinoWeb controversy where the office faced criticism for censoring an innocuous photo posted by the student media organization on social media.
The issue, which made national headlines, not only prompted a leadership change within the OSA but also a review of its student-related policies through a technical working group led by Ong.
READ MORE: From 7-Eleven to Congress: Timeline of events that led to OSA director’s leave
Among the other appointees were Asst. Prof. Christopher Ladao, who was named dean of the College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS) after serving in the position in an acting capacity since August 2023. Asst. Prof. Arne Barcelo was named CICS college secretary.
Asst. Prof. Gilda Kamus was named assistant director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics. Replacing her as institute secretary is Prof. Jerome Porto.
Anton Heinrich Rennesland of the Department of Philosophy was appointed director of the UST Research Center for Culture, Arts, and Humanities, replacing Prof. Maria Alexandra Chua, who transitioned to the deanship of the Conservatory of Music.
Chua replaced Assoc. Prof. Antonio Africa as Conservatory of Music dean.
READ: Artlets prof is new RCCAH director
READ: RCCAH director named Conservatory of Music dean
Fr. Maximo Gatela, O.P., formerly the regent of the UST Education High School, was named acting regent of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (FMS), replacing Fr. Angel Aparicio, O.P.
Other appointees at the FMS were Asst. Prof. Warren Bacorro as the chief program officer of the research center for health sciences, Asst. Prof. Maria Christina Maranion as the chief program officer for clinical programs, and Asst. Prof. Citadel de Castro as faculty secretary.
The College of Education has a new acting regent, Fr. Roman Santos, O.P., an assistant archivist of the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomas and farms affairs head of UST General Santos.
Acting UST Central Seminary rector Fr. Clarence Marquez, O.P. was appointed editor of Boletín Eclesiástico (replacing Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P.) and Philippiniana Sacra (replacing Fr. Jesus Jay Miranda, O.P.).
Joining him as assistant editors were Fr. Efren Rivera, O.P. for Boletín Eclesiástico and Fr. Norberto Castillo, O.P., for Philippiniana Sacra.
Commerce faculty member Earl Pantoja was named assistant director of the UST Communications Bureau, switching roles with Asst. Prof. Faye Abugan, who assumed the post of Tiger Media Network business manager and adviser.
READ: Abugan out of UST Communications Bureau
Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Kim Medallon will take charge as assistant to the director of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Educational Delivery.
Asst. Prof. Nerissa Adorna will assume the role of assistant principal for student formation at UST Senior High School, while Hazel Misola will serve as school secretary.
Katherine Sibug was appointed assistant director of the Office of Public Affairs, while Fr. Christopher Garinganao, O.P. was named library coordinator for the Ecclesiastical Faculties.
