The Rector is the highest unipersonal authority responsible for governing the University and manages its assets in accordance with the provisions of the Corporation's statutes. Dr. Pedro Palominos Belmar is currently in charge of the Rector's Office.
See the Rector's Office Website here
Rector's Resume
Dr. Pedro Iván Palominos Belmar
Rector of the University of Santiago de Chile (2026-2030)
Full professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Santiago de Chile.
Academic Background
Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, Polytechnic University of Catalonia.
Master of Science in Production Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Industrial Civil Engineer, University of Santiago de Chile.
Textile Engineering Technologist, University of Santiago de Chile
Career in Academia and Research
Specialist in operations management and technological innovation, with core expertise in logistics, quality management, decision-making, and applied artificial intelligence. Dr. Palominos has principal-investigator experience leading research projects and publishing in high-impact, indexed scientific journals. Furthermore, he has held visiting professorships at universities in Spain, Ecuador, Mexico, and Argentina, establishing a strong international research and teaching network.
Since 1986, he has provided strategic consultancy in management and production systems in Chile and Spain. He serves as an expert evaluator for major public and private research funding bodies, including FONDECYT, FONDEF, FONTEC, and PAG, and has participated in key national higher education and development initiatives (FDI and MECESUP). His professional affiliations include memberships in the Chilean Institute of Operations Research, the Chilean Society of Operations Management, and the Chilean Association for Digital Transformation.
Experience in university management
- Rector of the University of Santiago de Chile (2026-2030).
- Pro-Rector of the University of Santiago de Chile (2010-2016 and 2022-2024).
- Director of the Smart City Lab Center.
- Deputy Director of Management, Department of Industrial Engineering.
His connection to the university dates back to his formative years. He completed his elementary education at the República de Venezuela School and his secondary education at the historic School of Arts and Crafts (EAO), before enrolling at the University of Santiago de Chile, where he earned degrees in Industrial Civil Engineering and Textile Technical Engineering. He holds a Master’s degree in Production Engineering Sciences from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.
His leadership focuses on positioning the University of Santiago de Chile as an influential, pluralistic, and leading state-run institution. He is deeply committed to driving national development, fostering the holistic education of individuals, and promoting cutting-edge knowledge generation. Under his vision, he seeks to consolidate a robust, participatory, and sustainable institutional framework that strengthens the university’s societal impact and global standing.
Executive Office of the Rector
The Executive Office of the Rector is charged with several critical institutional functions: providing comprehensive administrative and strategic support to the Rector, keeping leadership appraised of corporate developments, and coordinating directly with University governance authorities. Additionally, the Office is responsible for implementing strategic directives, monitoring the progress of University Government programs, and ensuring the optimal administrative performance of the Executive Office.
The Executive Office of the Rector is organized into three functional areas:
• Communications Management and Public Relations
• Protocol
• Administrative Area
This task currently falls to the MSc. Marcela Rosinelli Contreras.
Communications Manager of the Rector's Office
The mission of the Communication Management and Public Relations Department is to strategically plan the Rector’s Office’s communications, both internally and externally, and to determine the institution’s communication guidelines, in direct coordination with the University Government’s communication departments.
Belén Pellegrini Pfeffer is currently in charge of this task.
University Ombudsman Unit
The purpose of this unit is to defend the human and labor rights of the members of the Usach community.