We are delighted to announce that Dr. Rhea Rowena U. Ubana-Apolinario has been reappointed by the UP Board of Regents for a second term as Dean of the UP School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) for 2026-2029. Following a highly successful first term (2023–2026), Dean Apolinario will continue to lead the School toward its vision of becoming the premier information school in Southeast Asia.
First Term Highlights
Guided by her threefold vision—Equip, Engage, Excel—Dean Apolinario’s first term was marked by landmark achievements that have elevated the School’s standing both locally and internationally. Key accomplishments from her first term include:
Academic and Professional Excellence: Under her leadership, the Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) program successfully achieved AUN-QA certification. Furthermore, UP was ranked in the Top 51-100 of the 2026 QS World University Subject Rankings for Library and Information Management.
Strengthening Human Resources: Dean Apolinario prioritised faculty development, with 13 of 14 full-time faculty members now tenured and several pursuing or completing PhDs. SLIS staff and REPS also participated in 140 training sessions to enhance their technical capabilities.
Curricular Innovation: The School introduced several new and relevant special topics, including Artificial Intelligence for Information Specialists, Data Visualization, Human-Computer Interaction, Comics and Libraries, and Data and Information Ethics, while transitioning the MLIS program to a Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS).
Compassionate Leadership: True to her "open-door policy," she held regular "Kapihan" meetings and worked closely with the Student Council and student organisations to support student programs and activities. SLIS remains one of the most compassionate colleges in UP Diliman under her term.
The Path Forward: Equipping, Engaging, and Excelling Toward a Robust UP SLIS
As she enters her second term (2027–2029), Dean Apolinario has refined her vision to focus on institutionalizing these gains and moving toward a "Robust UP SLIS". Her plans for the next three years include:
EQUIP: A New Home and New Horizons. The top priority for 2027 is the official transfer to the SLIS New Building once Phases 3 and 4 of the renovation are complete. Academically, the School will work toward implementing the first PhD program in Information Science in the country.
ENGAGE: Global and Local Linkages. The second term will see a push for more international collaborations with other iSchools and deeper engagement with alumni to secure further scholarship grants and resources for our students.
EXCEL: Digital Transformation. To ensure efficiency, Dean Apolinario plans to automate and digitise internal SLIS processes. The School also aims to maintain its status as a CHED Center of Excellence for LIS Education.
In her message to the community, Dean Apolinario emphasised that this vision requires "shared ownership". As we prepare for the move to our permanent home and the launch of our doctoral program, we wish Dean Apolinario a continued fruitful and inspired administration!
Published: 2026-06-29 10:41:44