Treading familiar grounds, former Pangasinan State University contractual instructor Dr. Elbert M. Galas set foot in the campus where his professional academic career began, this time as the institution’s PRESIDENT.
The seventh President of PSU waxed nostalgic as loud cheers and applause welcomed him back to Bayambang Campus on his first year anniversary in office as its highest official which, incidentally also falls on another seven, the 7th day of December.
“It’s nice to be back in my first and forever home,” President Galas exclaimed.
Dr. Galas finished his college studies at PSU Urdaneta Campus making him the first PSU alumni to become its President. He then started to work at PSU Bayambang Campus as an instructor in a contractual capacity for six years and became a Program Chair.
His diligence, hard work and innate skills landed him a position in the university as Director of the Quality Assurance Division and later on promoted as the QA Vice President. In 2021, he became the Vice President for Administration and Linkages before he ran for the highest position and garnered an 11-0 vote from the electoral Board of Regents in November 2022, making him the 7th President of PSU and the youngest state university president in the country.
With a jubilant crowd, Dr. Galas solemnized the oath-taking of Hiraya 2023 composed of student leaders from diverse interest clubs and organizations who pledged commitment to their respective roles.
He later on led the President’s Hour, a dialogue with students, teaching and non-teaching employees of the campus, to listen to their concerns and give a first-hand answer to their questions.
“My dear PSUnians, our stakeholders and colleagues, it is my request that whatever your functions, your roles as student, non teaching personnel or faculty members, please ensure a collaborative effort and utmost commitment to achieve our strategic goals to realize our vision to become a leading industry-driven state university by 2023,” the President stated.
Newly installed Campus Executive Director Dr. Gudelia Samson was elated for the President’s visit and took note of all the concerns of the employees and students for immediate action.
Incidentally, in the middle of the dialogue, a piece of great news broke out that PSU produced another topnotcher in the September 2023 Licensure Examination for Teachers.
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐝𝐞𝐦 𝐎𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐨, a Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Science graduate from Batch 2022, and a PSU LIS High School product from Bayambang Campus, ranked 7th place among the 77,777 new Licensed Professional Teachers.
Just last March, PSU Bayambang also had a 7th placer in the same board examination along with three other topnotchers, continuing the ‘7’ streak.
It was indeed a fruitful and victorious day for PSU as the quest for excellence continues to be felt by the community.
