President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named Dr. Shirley Castañeda Agrupis as the new Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), replacing Prospero “Popoy” de Vera III. The appointment, confirmed by the Palace this week, signals a renewed push for research-driven and community-oriented leadership in Philippine tertiary education.

Dr. Agrupis, a noted academic and scientist, is no stranger to public service and educational innovation. She served as president of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte, from 2017 to 2023, making history as the first alumna of MMSU to assume the university’s highest post. Her tenure was marked by groundbreaking achievements in institutional accreditation, international partnerships, and homegrown scientific research.

Born and raised in the Ilocos region, Dr. Agrupis graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from MMSU. She then pursued her Master’s degree in Plant Morphology-Anatomy and Physiology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños and earned her Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences from the United Graduate School of Agricultural Science of Gifu University in Japan. She was later awarded post-doctoral training fellowships in the United States under the Fulbright-Philippine Agriculture Scholarship and the USDA Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program.

Her academic journey laid the foundation for a research career focused on plant-based innovations, renewable energy, and indigenous medicine. As president of MMSU, she spearheaded the establishment of the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC), which led pioneering efforts in bioethanol production from nipa palm and contributed alcohol-based disinfectants to the region during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also oversaw the Tuklas Lunas Development Center, a collaborative research facility that explored bioactive compounds from local flora for pharmaceutical development.

Under her watch, MMSU earned international distinctions, including a 4-star rating from the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Stars Rating System, an improved Times Higher Education Impact Ranking, and entry into the World University Rankings for Innovation. The university also expanded its international linkages, launched new programs in geoinformatics and food innovation, and made strides in climate change resilience and sustainable agriculture.

For her service, Dr. Agrupis received multiple accolades, including the Outstanding Science Administrator Award from the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), the William D. Dar Research Leadership Award, and a Regional Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award from the Civil Service Commission. She was also among the top 10 awardees in the 2023 Philippine Resilience Awards for Women for integrating science and community resilience.

Dr. Agrupis was first appointed CHED Commissioner in 2023 and designated to several state university boards. Her elevation to CHED’s top post in May 2025, confirmed by Malacañang and supported by the education community, reflects confidence in her science-based leadership style and her inclusive approach to education governance.

As the new head of CHED, she is expected to oversee the agency’s critical functions in regulating public and private higher education institutions, ensuring quality assurance, and advancing access to tertiary education under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. She is also anticipated to continue pushing for policies that link research with regional development, particularly through innovation hubs embedded in state universities.

For educators and students who have long advocated for reforms in the higher education sector, her appointment is seen as a welcome development. She is a scholar-leader who has walked the halls of the institutions she now helps govern.