Throughout his four-decade tenure at the Interamerican University and while serving as president, Fernós succeeded in expanding the academic offerings to over 200 programs.
By THE STAR STAFF
Former Interamerican University President Manuel Fernós, who led the institution for 23 years, passed away on Saturday. He was 76 years of age.
The current president of Interamerican, Rafael Ramírez Rivera, made the announcement, expressing sorrow over the loss of the university’s tenth president.
“For over 40 years, Mr. Fernós committed himself to advancing, through higher education, the professional development of thousands of graduates from the Interamerican University,” stated Ramírez Rivera.
Prior to his career in education, Fernós had professional experience in the private sector as well as public service in the Department of Justice and the Commission to Combat Crime in Puerto Rico. In the educational arena, he served as a professor, dean of Studies (1982-1985), dean of the Faculty of Law (1985-1992), chancellor of the Metropolitan Campus (1992-1999), and president of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (1999-2022).
During his 40-year journey at the Interamerican University and his presidency, he was able to enhance the academic offerings to more than 200 programs, comprising associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, including the doctorate in Theological Studies, Business and Management Development, and Psychology.
Among these programs, he successfully developed over 70 online courses. He also initiated eight technical career programs that award certificates, and today Intertec presents more than 30 different programs.
As the president of the institution, Fernós set up the Vice Presidency of Religious Affairs. Moreover, the university accomplished an expansion worth over 50 million dollars in construction initiatives, which included a new building for the School of Optometry at the Bayamón Campus, a facility for the Center for Computer Science and Telecommunications at the San Germán Campus, a Student Center at the Barranquitas Campus, the construction of dormitories at the Bayamón Campus, along with expansions at Aguadilla, Arecibo, Fajardo, Guayama, and Ponce campuses, and at the Faculty of Law and student housing at the Metro Campus.
Furthermore, he successfully revised the consortia for exchange and international cooperation initiatives, establishing agreements with the University of Oxford in England, the Beijing School of Communications in China, and universities in Spain, Chile, and the Dominican Republic, as well as consortia with the Latin American Network of University Cooperation, UNIVERSIA, and HETS, among other partnerships. Through these efforts, he fostered the internationalization of higher education, leveraging distance education and the exchange of faculty, students, and educational materials. Additionally, he continued to develop Educational Centers abroad, such as those in Orlando, Florida, and Panama, and more recently as administrator of the Inter Philadelphia Educational Center.
In spite of his remarkable accomplishments, the Board of Trustees of Interamerican removed Fernós from his position, resulting in a legal dispute.
The university community of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico extends its condolences to his wife, nephews, family, and friends, praying for their peace and comfort through the Almighty’s support. President Ramírez Rivera announced that as a tribute to Fernós, the university flags will be flown at half-mast for a duration of seven days, as indicated by the institution.
