The Board of Trustees of Miriam College is pleased to announce the appointment of Maria Regina Lucia M. Lizares, Ph.D., as the new President of Miriam College, effective January 1, 2026, following a comprehensive search process.
Dr. Lizares brings to the presidency an exceptional blend of academic leadership, industry experience, and scholarly achievement. A business professional turned academic, she brings over 20 years of extensive, multi-sector professional experience, including senior leadership roles in multinational firms and more than a decade of distinguished academic service at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
A Scholar-Leader with a Strong Academic Record
Dr. Lizares earned her PhD in Business Administration and MS in Management from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She also holds an MA in International Business and Economic Development (with Distinction) from the University of Reading as a British Council Scholar, an MBA (Bilingual Program: English & Spanish) from IESE Business School (University of Navarra), and a BS in Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude) from UP Diliman—where she also played for the UP Women’s Varsity Volleyball Team.
Her academic career at UP Diliman spans roles from Senior Lecturer to Professor at the Cesar E.A. Virata School of Business (VSB). She served as Dean of VSB (2022–2025) and was recognized as a UP Scientist I, a testament to her scientific productivity and international reputation. She is a consistent Professorial Chair awardee and has taught across undergraduate, MBA, and PhD programs.
Her scholarly work includes numerous international and local journal publications, book chapters, case studies, and conference proceedings. She has also served as reviewer, editor, and academic leader across multiple prestigious publications and institutions.
A Leader with Deep Industry Expertise
Before entering academia full-time, Dr. Lizares built an accomplished career in multinational corporations, including:
- McKinsey & Company (Southeast Asia) – Director of Professional Development & Recruiting; Junior Engagement Manager
- ABS-CBN Corporation – Head of Corporate Planning (Vice President level)
- UBS Securities Philippines – Associate Director, Equity Research
- Paribas Asia Equity Securities – Assistant Vice President, Equity Research
- PHINMA – Senior Corporate Planning Officer
- San Miguel Corporation – Financial Analyst
Across these roles, she led strategic planning, people development, corporate governance initiatives, market research, and strategy execution for some of the region’s most influential firms.
A Foundation of Scholarship, Service, and Leadership
With a leadership philosophy that integrates strategic insight with results-driven execution, Dr. Lizares is recognized as a collaborative, high-performing academic leader with strong communication, mentoring, and people-development skills. Her expertise in strategy, governance, human behavior in organizations, and international business, combined with her extensive industry background, uniquely positions her to guide Miriam College into its next chapter of institutional growth and global engagement.
Dr. Lizares is an accomplished alumna of Maryknoll College. She started from the Child Study Center to High School where she graduated in 1984.
The Miriam College community warmly welcomes Dr. Maria Regina Lucia M. Lizares as she assumes the Presidency. We look forward to her leadership in advancing academic excellence, fostering innovation, strengthening research, and nurturing generations of leaders committed to service and social transformation.
