11/05/2026
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT | Dr. Richard Jugar - Professor and Educational Practices, Instruction, and Curriculum (EPIC) Development Office Director
WATCH: Educator. Advocate. Leader.
Dr. Richard Jugar’s journey began with a curiosity for the human brain and a dream of becoming a neurosurgeon. At the University of San Carlos, this passion was redirected toward the classroom through a rigorous double major in Physics and Chemistry. Instead of the clinic, he found his purpose in the Institute of Science and Mathematics Education.
Immersed in an international environment with mentors from the Netherlands, he built a scientific foundation that was both global and grounded. He realized early on that while he wouldn’t be holding a scalpel, he would still be shaping minds.
Now a Full Professor and Director of the EPIC Development Office, Dr. Jugar’s influence extends far beyond the campus. He serves as a Special Advisor to the AUN Executive Director, working to harmonize education policies across the ASEAN region. Only recently, he had been appointed to the CHED Committee for Research, Policy, and Substantive Matters in relation to the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship for 2026 and selected for the AUN-QEx Europe Engagement.
His career has come full circle, moving from a student fascinated by science to a leader influencing national and regional mobility. He continues to prove that Carolinian educators are capable of leading change on the global stage.
For Dr. Jugar, education is the great equalizer that gives everyone a chance to shine. He lives by the belief that a teacher’s vocation is the most influential force in a student's life.
Come home, Carolinians, and rekindle the memories that shaped us.
See you on July 25, 2026!
