Batac, Ilocos Norte—Incumbent College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF) Dean Dr. Miriam E. Pascua was recently named the new president of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU).

Ma. Cristina Padolina, chairperson of MMSU’s Board of Regents (BOR) made this announcement on March 29 following the BOR’s meeting wherein they selected the state university’s new president.

Pascua, who at 48 years old is the youngest among those who contended for MMSU’s presidency, would serve as university president from May 2, 2002 to May 3, 2007 as she would also serve the unexpired two-year term of former MMSU President Saturnino M. Ocampo Jr., who was earlier appointed as commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

A native of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Pascua holds a doctorate degree in plant breeding from the University of the Philippines (UP) in Los Baños, a masteral degree in Biology from UP-Diliman and Bachelor of Science in Biology degree from UP-Baguio.

Others who vied for the MMSU presidency were Dr. Rosario Cardenas, a UP-Los Baños agriculturist; Dr. Heraldo Layaoen, incumbent MMSU vice president for administration; and Dr. Stanley Malab, currently MMSU vice president for research and extension.

Leilanie G. Adriano