DR. CECILIA S. NAVASERO-GASCON

Profile

Dr. Cecilia S. Navasero-Gascon is a seasoned academic and higher education leader, with over two decades of transformative experience as president of two state universities in Luzon. A licensed Forester and committed environmental advocate, she is widely recognized for her strategic leadership, governance innovations, and enduring contributions to institutional development, faculty capacity building, and environmental education.

She holds three degrees from the University of the Philippines Los Baños: Bachelor of Science in Forestry, Master in Environmental Studies, and Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry.

Dr. Gascon first served as President of Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) from 2006 to 2015, where she led the transition of the former Southern Luzon Polytechnic College into a full-fledged university. Her administration significantly improved academic quality, research capacity, infrastructure development, and institutional governance. Under her leadership, SLSU attained high levels of program accreditation, ISO 9001:2008 certification, recognition as a Center of Development in Forestry and Teacher Education, and produced a significant number of graduate degree holders under the Faculty and Staff Development Program.

She championed policies and systems that professionalized the university’s operations, including performance management, faculty merit systems, and quality assurance frameworks. Despite limited government funding, her administration maximized internally generated income and external partnerships to build major academic facilities, improve laboratories, and establish a culture of excellence.

From 2015 to 2023, Dr. Gascon served two consecutive terms as President of Bulacan State University, one of the largest and oldest state universities in Central Luzon. Her entry into the university was marked by a vision of institutional renewal and modernization. She introduced inclusive and collaborative leadership practices, modernized academic offerings, enhanced research and extension services, and oversaw major infrastructure upgrades. Her presidency ushered in a new culture of innovation, transparency, and strategic development across the university’s multiple campuses.

Outside the academe, Dr. Gascon has held key leadership roles in national and regional organizations. She is the current President of the Philippine Network of Educators on Environment (PNEE), and has also served as President of the SEARCA Fellows Association of the Philippines, President of the Regional SEARCA Fellows Association, Vice-Chairperson of the Philippine Red Cross – Bulacan Chapter, Board Director for Central Luzon of the Philippine Association of Extension Program Implementers, Inc., and President of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities of Industrial Technology.

Her long-standing advocacy for environmental education, research, and governance has consistently guided her leadership journey. Dr. Gascon is known for her principled leadership, forward-thinking reforms, and dedication to the mission of higher education institutions as instruments for national development and environmental stewardship.