CPAf conducted the “turnover of gavel” for the new Dean, Asst. Prof. Aileen V. Lapitan on 11 April 2024 at CPAf Rooms 303 and 304, symbolizing the transition of leadership in the College. After the ceremony, Dean Lapitan led the first town hall meeting under her term to formally address the CPAf constituents.
The ceremony officially started with a speech from the former Dean, Prof. Rowena DT. Baconguis composing of advice and messages of support for Dean Lapitan. “As part of the [executive committee] in the past, I know that you already have an inkling how to manage CPAf… I know that you will be prioritizing CPAf in all the things that you do,” Prof. Baconguis said.
Introduced by Assoc. Prof. Evelie P. Serrano as the 9th Dean of the College, Dean Lapitan accepted the symbolic gavel from Prof. Baconguis as witnessed by UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. and Vice Chancellor Rolando T. Bello. “She inspires trust and confidence among the people she works with and thus able to promote a culture of perseverance and collaboration making it possible for her team to achieve great things,” Assoc. Prof. Serrano shared.
In her acceptance speech, Dean Lapitan encouraged the CPAf constituents to promote CPAf’s instruction, research, and public service. She urged the faculty members to develop up-to par courses and world class students and advisees. Dean Lapitan also addressed the researchers of CPAf to share their research results and extension activities to vast audiences for policy and scholarship.
Posing a challenge to the student leaders of CPAf, Dean Lapitan said, “wherever you go, you carry our name so make sure you do everything according to the values and the standards of CPAf whether as community leaders and as professionals.”
Dean Lapitan then presented the new members of the executive committee, Prof. Nelson Jose Vincent B. Querijero as the OIC-Director of the Center for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies (CSPPS), Asst. Prof. Mayo Grace C. Amit as the incoming Director of the Institute for Governance and Rural Development (IGRD) as well as new appointments of the Dean’s Office, Assoc. Prof. Rhea L. Gumasing as the Assistant to the Dean and Asst. Prof. Maria Luz L. Malabayabas as Knowledge Management Office (KMO) Head.
The UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., Vice Chancellor Rolando T. Bello graced the event and offered messages of acknowledgement to the former Dean, Prof. Baconguis; and support to Dean Lapitan. “With the support of our faculty members, administrative staff, and alumni, especially, well-placed in the academe, bureaucracy, executive and judiciary levels… I hope you are able to nurture their affinity to CPAf,” Chancellor Camacho added.
Immediately after the ceremony, Dean Lapitan facilitated the town hall meeting to address some concerns through an open forum. This event was attended by the faculty members, REPS, and administrative staff of the College.
About the New Dean of CPAf
Dr. Aileen Virrey Lapitan is currently the Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), where she is also an Assistant Professor under the Institute for Governance and Rural Development (IGRD). She was a former Director of one of the research centers of CPAf, the Center for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies (CSPPS) where she led the implementation of the Development Innovations and Policy Laboratory (DIPLab), a PCAARRD and UPLB funded project that bridges AANR research to policy. As faculty member, Dr. Lapitan is involved in curriculum development and student mentoring in the Development Management and Governance, Public Affairs, as well as Development Studies graduate programs. She is a member of the American Evaluation Association, a Certified Expert in Adaptation Finance, and a John Dillon Fellow.
Dr. Lapitan holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from UPLB, Master of Arts (Economics) from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, and a doctorate degree in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA.
