Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) proudly welcomes CHED Commissioner Ethel Agnes P. Valenzuela as the newly designated Chairperson of the WMSU Board of Regents. The entire WMSU community is thrilled and honored to have such a distinguished leader at the helm, looking forward to a more progressive institution under her stewardship.
Dr. Valenzuela brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise in education leadership and policy-making. She currently serves as the Chairman of the CHED Technical Working Group (TWG) on Lifelong Learning and is a member of the Technical Panel on Transnational Education and Distance Education. Her commitment to academic excellence and policy reforms has been evident in her numerous roles within the educational sector.
Since April 2023, Dr. Valenzuela has been working as an Education Advisor on the Future of Education for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Research and Development Platform of the ASEAN Secretariat. Additionally, she has contributed significantly to the USAID-UPSKILL initiative as Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), aiding in the enhancement of education systems and workforce development.
Dr. Valenzuelaโs influence extends beyond the Philippines and Southeast Asia. She made history as the first female Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat, the executive arm of the SEAMEO Council of Ministers of Education from 11 member states, serving from April 2019 to March 2023. Prior to this, she was the first female Deputy Director for Programmes from July 2015 to March 2019, based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Her contributions to global education policy are equally remarkable. She has served as a governing board member of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, and the UNESCO ISCED-T Advisory Group. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in the UNESCO Teacher Task Force and represented the Asia-Pacific region in the UNESCO Education 2030 High-Level Steering Committee, Sherpa Group, from September 2017 until March 2023. She also acts as a jury member for the UNESCO ICT Prize in Education and the International Council of Distance Education ICT Prize of Excellence.
Beyond her administrative and advisory roles, Dr. Valenzuela remains a dedicated educator. She continues to teach PhD classes as a Professorial Lecturer at the Department of Educational Leadership and Professional Services, College of Education, University of the Philippines – Diliman. She is also an editorial board member of the UP College of Education Philippine Journal of Education Studies and currently serves as the President of Pi Lambda Theta, an international honors society for women education leaders.
Her academic credentials are equally impressive. Dr. Valenzuela holds a Doctorate in Educational Management from De La Salle University, a Master of Arts in Science Education from Philippine Normal University, and a Bachelorโs degree in Secondary Education, major in English and minor in General Science (cum laude).
With her extensive background in educational leadership, policy-making, and international collaboration, WMSU is set to benefit immensely under Dr. Valenzuelaโs guidance. The WMSU community eagerly anticipates a future of enhanced academic excellence and innovation as she takes on this prestigious role. (LMP, PAO)
