Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, Ph.D.
President, University of San Carlos
Personal Background
Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, returns as the 12th President of the University of San Carlos. He served as USC President (1999–2002) and rejoined the USC Board of Trustees, where he previously served two terms (1999–2002, 2004–2013). His previous assignment before returning to USC is as the School Director of Liceo del Verbo Divino in Tacloban City. He is a religious missionary of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).
He studied philosophy and theology at Christ the King Seminary in Quezon City and Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay, completing an M.A. Philosophy degree in DWS before earning a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the Catholic University of America in 1997. He is currently a Board Member of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU), the Divine Word College of Calapan, and is a member of the USC Corporation.
After his first term as USC President, Fr. Estepa served as President of Divine Word College of Legaspi (2002–2008) where he was very active in various organizations including serving as Executive Vice President of the Albay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, member of the Legaspi City Tourism Council, and as Secretary of the Bicol Association of Catholic Schools. He then served as President of Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City (2008–2020) before assuming his current post.