The new president plans to strengthen the university's identity, promote academic excellence, and build a community of faculty and students committed to the pursuit of truth and service to society.
Mexico City, November 11, 2026. The Universidad Panamericana formally appointed Dr. Fernando Batista Jiménez as rector of the Mexico Campus during an inauguration and oath-taking ceremony. At the event, the new rector outlined the key principles that will guide his tenure: strengthening the university’s identity, placing the individual at the center of the educational mission, and building an academic community committed to knowledge, the pursuit of truth, and service.
The formal ceremony began with a procession of the academic faculty, who made their way to the university auditorium. Once there, the presiding officials were introduced, led by Dr. Fernanda Llergo Bay, president of the University of the Pacific ( Universidad Panamericana ) and IPADE; Ana Isabel Sarmiento, MBA, Secretary General of UP and IPADE; Lorenzo Fernández Alonso, Engineer, Director General of IPADE; Dr. Abraham Mendoza Andrade, Rector of the Guadalajara Campus; andDr. Antonio de los Reyes Moreno, Rector of the Aguascalientes Campus, accompanied by the outgoing and incoming rectors.
To open the ceremony, Dr. Santiago García Álvarez delivered his final speech after nearly twelve years at the helm of the Mexico Campus. In his address, he shared reflections on university governance, emphasized that leading a university is a role focused on the common good and on creating spaces for people to flourish, and underscored the temporary nature of leadership by quoting the philosopher Alejandro Llano:
“Academic positions are tasks entrusted to us—temporary assignments given not so that we may settle into them, but so that we may generously devote ourselves to fulfilling them and then hand them over with the satisfaction of a duty well done. I leave with peace of mind, knowing that I have done my best to serve this community, and at the same time, I also leave feeling satisfied with the achievements and results my beloved alma mater has attained over these many years.”
Next, the secretary general, Ana Isabel Sarmiento, MBA, stepped up to the podium to read the official minutes of the Governing Council, in which Dr. Fernando Batista Jiménez was unanimously appointed rector of the Mexico Campus for the 2026–2029 term.
This was followed by one of the most significant moments of the ceremony: the handover of the rector’s shell. As a symbol, the shell represents the authority that the Governing Council entrusts to the rector to guide the university’s course with prudence and leadership. In a literal sense, a weight is placed upon his shoulders; for this reason, at the end of each term, the period of service is engraved on the reverse side of the medal.
Immediately afterward, Dr. Fernanda Llergo Bay administered the formal oath of office to Dr. Fernando Batista Jiménez, through which the new rector made a solemn commitment to uphold ethical leadership, respect for the individual, and the pursuit of the common good as the guiding principles of his conduct toward the university community. The ceremonial event concluded with the performance of the university anthem by the Symphony Orchestra of the School of Fine Arts’ “ Universidad Panamericana .”
As he assumed this responsibility and addressed the audience for the first time as president from the podium, Dr. Batista emphasized that the University of the Andes ( Universidad Panamericana ) has a history and a tradition that must be preserved and strengthened, acknowledging the work of the generations that have helped build the institution.
“The president does not own a university. The university has, for a time, a president who must serve it,” he said, emphasizing that the presidency is a temporary responsibility in the service of an institution that transcends those entrusted with leading it.
He also noted that service and excellence should guide the work of the entire university community. Echoing the words of St. Josemaría Escrivá, “To serve is to serve,” he emphasized that a willingness to help others must be accompanied by preparation, competence, and a job well done.
He also emphasized the central role of the faculty and the importance of fostering interdisciplinary dialogue as the essence of university life:
“ Universidad Panamericana , above all, should be proud of its faculty. We should all know who our great professors are, understand what they study, what they have written, what they have discovered, and what questions keep them up at night. That is why it is not enough simply to have great professors; we must ensure they come together. A truly university-like Panamericana must make it possible for an engineering researcher to discover that just a few meters away there is a philosopher asking a question related to his own, and for a doctor to find a legal scholar with whom to tackle a problem that neither of them could solve on their own.”
With gratitude, he reflected on his career at the Law School, where he served as dean for three years, to reaffirm that his leadership will focus on promoting teaching.
“At the Law School, I received my education and met teachers, colleagues, and friends. I have also taught there, and I will strive to continue doing so, because teaching is my calling—although I am aware that it is now my duty to serve as dean so that others can become better teachers.”
Finally, in addressing the challenges of an era marked by profound technological and social transformations, the new university president emphasized that the university’s mission is to teach students to think with rigor and a sense of humanity.
“Not because the challenges are small, but because we have what we need to face them: a clear identity, a great university tradition, and, above all, extraordinary people. Our task in the coming years will be to serve them,”he concluded.
To conclude the event, Dr. Fernanda Llergo Bay delivered a closing address in which she highlighted the institutional value of continuity and the spirit of service in university life:
“The transition in the Rector’s Office at the Mexico Campus represents precisely one of those momentous milestones. It reminds us of the unique importance of the academic mission—the most important one at the university—and the opportunity to serve temporarily in leadership roles for as long as necessary. It is also an ideal occasion to express our gratitude for a career marked by selfless dedication and to welcome with renewed enthusiasm the person who is taking on this new responsibility today.”
As the institution approaches its 60th anniversary, the president reaffirmed that the essence of the Universidad Panamericana lies in its original mission to combine academic rigor and excellence with the formation of people of integrity dedicated to the generous service of others.
With this swearing-in ceremony, Dr. Fernando Batista Jiménez begins a new chapter as head of the Mexico Campus, committed to nurturing, strengthening, and promoting an institution built by generations, so that it may continue to contribute to the well-rounded education of individuals and serve society.
We invite you to read the full speech by Dr. Fernando Batista Jiménez, rector of the Mexico Campus of the Universidad Panamericana, by clicking here.
