DLSU’s first woman and lay President, now Chancellor Emeritus, Dr. Carmelita Quebengco AFSC, Ed.D. was conferred an honorary doctorate by Universidad La Salle Mexico last February 23.
She attended remotely through a live stream ceremony, with DLSU President Br. Bernard Oca FSC presenting her the hood, cap, and honoris causa medal on behalf of the Universidad La Salle Mexico. The conferment ceremony was part of the 60th founding anniversary celebrations of Universidad La Salle Mexico.
Quebengco was recognized for her pioneering work and leadership in education, specifically at the College of Saint Benilde where she served as founding Dean; the various innovations she introduced at DLSU as its first woman President and Chancellor Emeritus, and at De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) where she was the first COO, and her establishment of a culturally appropriate school for Mangyan children in the uplands of Southern Mindoro. She was also cited for her contributions to the work of the Institute of the Christian Brothers in Rome, Italy.
It is her third honorary degree. She received her first honorary doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management in 2010 from Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota, USA, and her second in 2018 from Saint Mary’s College of California, USA.
Quebengco is a leading figure in the global Lasallian network. She was the first woman Co-Chair of the 2013 International Assembly of the Institute of the Christian Brothers; the first lay person appointed by the Superior General as Co-Secretary of the Lasallian Mission Office of Christian Brothers Institute in Rome, Italy from 2008 to 2013; a board member of the International Association of Lasallian Universities (IALU); and Chair of the IALU Research Committee for many years.
She served as a DLSU faculty and later administrator assigned to various posts, eventually becoming the first woman Executive Vice President/Chancellor of the University.
It was during her watch when DLSU was first ranked the top private university in the country by the QS World University Rankings in 2004.
Her work for the Lasallian Cluster Schools involves strengthening the synergies between La Salle schools within a given geographical area. Together with the DLSU College of Science and De La Salle Araneta University College of Veterinary Medicine and Agricultural Sciences, she initiated and helped launch the program Bachelor of Science in Animal Biology leading to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Quebengco is also a Trustee of some 20 schools and universities, national professional organizations, NGOs, and educational accrediting bodies.
She will be one of the featured personalities in a leadership book series to be launched soon by the DLSU Publishing House Inc.
