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The academic from the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences became the second woman to lead the institution in its more than 180 years of history.
The ceremony was attended by national authorities and also by the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities.
Source: University of Chile Press
In a historic ceremony held on June 19, the Professor Alejandra Mizala Salces officially assumed the role of the new Rector of the University of Chile for the period 2026-2030. The distinguished academic received the University of Chile Medal from her predecessor, Professor Rosa Devés Alessandri (2022-2026), thus becoming the second woman to hold the highest office in the history of the institution.
The milestone, marked by the continuity of institutional excellence and female leadership, was attended by the Minister of Education, María Paz Arzola, government authorities and Representatives of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH).
Commitment to talent and the public role
During her first official address, Rector Mizala said she accepted this challenge “with humility, gratitude, and a profound sense of responsibility,” emphasizing the national and community character of the institution. “The University of Chile does not belong to those of us who, circumstantially, hold positions of responsibility, nor even to those of us who inhabit it today. It belongs to its community and to the country,” she affirmed, defining her administration as a link in a generational chain united by the conviction that knowledge must build a more just society.
Among her strategic priorities, she outlined the development of talent without distinction of social origin or gender. “When a society fails to recognize and develop all available talent, it loses its capacity for innovation, creation, growth, and development,” she warned.
For her part, the Minister of Education, María Paz Arzola, highlighted the historical impact of the University of Chile on the development of the nation and emphasized the significance of this change of leadership. “Today we are witnessing a transition between two academics who not only embody the service and public commitment of this institution but also excellence and female leadership. Both are clear proof that there are no spaces off-limits to women,” the Secretary of State stressed.
Trajectory and institutional management
Rector Alejandra Mizala is an economist from the University of Chile and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. As a Full Professor in the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (FCFM), she has over 37 years of experience in teaching, cutting-edge research, and public policy design, with a focus on equity and public education.
Before assuming the rectorship, she served as Vice-Rector (2022-2026), a period in which she successfully led the process that culminated in the institutional accreditation of excellence for the maximum of seven years (2025-2032).
Her research focuses on the economics of education, quality, equity, and gender gaps in STEM. She has led numerous projects, advised international organizations, and served on committees and advisory boards related to education, labor, pensions, and gender.
He also has a prominent foundational background in academia, as his career includes directing units such as the Center for Advanced Research in Education (CIAE) and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Education (IE).
New management team
The new rector of the University of Chile will be accompanied by Professor Dorotea López in the Vice-Rectorate, Professor Ulrike Kemmerling in the Vice-Rectorate of Academic Affairs (VAA), Professor Sergio Olavarrieta in the Vice-Rectorate of Economic Affairs and Institutional Management (VAEGI), Professor Jaime McPhee in the Vice-Rectorate of Research and Development (VID), Professor Pilar Barba in the Vice-Rectorate of Extension and Communications (VEXCOM), Pamela Díaz-Romero in the Vice-Rectorate of Student and Community Affairs (VAEC), and Professor José Correa in the Vice-Rectorate of Information Technologies (VTI).
The new vice-rectors will officially assume their duties starting July 1st.
The broadcast of this historic ceremony is available on the University of Chile YouTube channel.
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