“Personally, this is my last annual account of the Rectory”.
This is how direct Ignacio Sánchez, still rector of the Pontifical Catholic University, was this Friday during the final part of what will be his last accountability speech at the helm of the PUC. “I am happy to be able to show all the work of a community committed to the university ethos, advances in innovative teaching, research and transfer to society, heritage and cultural development. For this, I express my deep gratitude for these almost 15 years directing the destinies of the UC”, he added.
The pediatric surgeon thus confirmed to the entire community something that he had already pointed out to those close to him on more than one occasion and that, in fact, in 2023 he had already revealed in an interview with The Clinic, when he said that this third period, at the head of the Catholic, it would be the last. “It is not good for the institution beyond 15 years, and I think that human beings also need a change of project. After 15 years, it’s good to have other projects”he said that time.
And so, although he has no impediment to remaining as rector if he so wishes (and if the Vatican ratifies it), the truth is that after his speech today the 63-year-old doctor begins to put an end to a position which he has held since March 24, 2010 and which he will leave in 2025, thus opening the race to succeed him suddenly in the PUC. In any case, as Sánchez’s departure has been a fact for some time, the names to follow the lead have already begun to circulate. And the expectation, at least indoors, is great.
Even more so because in the halls of the PUC, since the end of the previous period, which finally ratified Sánchez, they began to talk that it was time for, just as Rosa Devés did at the University of Chile, at the PUC assume for the first time a woman as highest authority, something that even the current rector has said that he sees feasible.
And so, there are at least two candidates that have already emerged: Lorena Medina, who was working on Yasna Provoste’s presidential campaign, which also ran last time and is a former dean of Education; and Sol Serranoformer vice-rector for Research and who is said to have Sánchez’s approval.
But they are not the only names floating around that have at least shown some interest. In fact, internally there is also talk of Juan Larraindirector of the Institute of Applied Ethics and who also participated in the last rector election; Juan Carlos de la Llera, former dean of Engineering and whose name circulated in the middle of the previous period; and Roberto Gonzalezformer Academic Vice-Rector and professor at the School of Psychology.
What’s coming now? The Vatican must ratify how the election process will be carried out, which should not vary from previous processes. And so, the first thing that should happen is the definition of a Search Committee of nine members (some elected and others appointed) and the General Secretariat, which should be installed between September and October. And so, after an extensive round of conversations with the university community, they should reach a proposal for a shortlist, which in the past has already included women, to the Grand Chancellor (today it is Monsignor Fernando Chomali) for subsequent sending to the Holy Campus.
The work of this committee is, on paper, reserved and it is able to carry out all the instances of conversation and inquiries it deems appropriate, whether with groups or individuals.
