Dr. Hugo O. Villar, associate dean for professional and continuing education at UC San Diego Extension, has been selected as the next dean of UC San Diego Extension after a nationwide search, effective July 1, 2021.
He will succeed Dean Mary Lindenstein Walshok, who will be stepping down in order to focus exclusively on UC San Diego‘s innovative initiative UC San Diego Park and Market, in downtown San Diego slated to open in 2022.
Previously, Dr. Villar worked in the biotech industry at the interface between chemistry and information technologies to speed up the development of new therapeutic agents.
He joined UC San Diego Extension in 2008 as an academic advisor and has served in a leadership position for more than a decade. His broad perspective and collaborative approach to education has led him to positions of steadily increasing responsibility from his start as an academic director.
As a member of the senior management team for the past four years, Dr. Villar has built a deep understanding of UC San Diego Extension’s mission as a nexus between UC San Diego and the broader community that delivers exceptional and accessible education and outreach programs.
“It is my honor and privilege to serve as dean for UC San Diego Extension, and to be able to lead the organization at a time where the landscape of higher education is rapidly changing with novel exciting modalities and technologies that lower barriers for more inclusive access to workforce training and education,” Dr. Villar said.
“As part of a top global research university, UC San Diego Extension thinks local and acts global and is well established to put forth on the world stage the best that our San Diego community and our University have to offer. Our broad mission and entrepreneurial spirit will continue to innovate to increase access to higher education, develop a vibrant workforce with the most up-to-date skills, and providing avenues for personal and professional enrichment at any stage of life.”
Leadership Defined
In his current role, Dr. Villar oversees Professional and Continuing Education programs, the Center for Research and Evaluation, online learning operations, custom and corporate education programs, and self-supporting master’s degree programs, with a budget of $25 million and a staff of 80 employees, including academic personnel.
He has developed, implemented and evaluated new educational offerings focused on a wide array of audiences, with particular attention to accessibility and equity. Select programs addressed the career development needs of employees from local industries, and others focused on international, post-graduate and graduate students.
Dr. Villar’s established collaborations with the academic divisions of the university have proven invaluable in maintaining educational continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to remote instruction.
He has been an important partner in a recent Academic Affairs workgroup establishing a series of concrete recommendations for further strengthening the ties between UC San Diego Extension and the rest of UC San Diego. Additionally, he has been engaged in inter-institutional partnerships to develop joint programs with other major universities, including UC campuses, as well as national and international peers.
Dr. Villar holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science in Physical Chemistry from Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina, and a master’s in business administration with a concentration in Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Management from the University of Colorado.
He has a wide range of leadership experience in industry, research and continuing education, having joined UC San Diego Extension after a successful career as a researcher and executive in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.
Dr. Villar resides in the Columbia district in downtown San Diego with his wife. They both grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
