Pernia sworn in as VP for Public Affairs

| Written by Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo

UP President Danilo Concepcion swears in Dr. Elena Pernia as VP for Public Affairs. Joining her are her husband (rightmost), Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, their daughter-in-law Jonah de Lumen-Pernia, and their grandchildren Juan Lorenzo and Alexa Luna. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO)

 

UP Diliman College of Mass Communication Dean Elena “Neny” Pernia took her oath as VP for Public Affairs on January 25 at the office of UP President Danilo Concepcion. She succeeds Dr. Jose Dalisay Jr., who retired on January 15. Pernia’s appointment as VP was effective January 16.

 

The new VP and her family pose for photos with the UP President after the oathtaking. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO)

 

Pernia signs her oath of office. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO)

 

From left to right: Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents Roberto Lara, Executive VP Teodoro Herbosa, President Danilo Concepcion, VP for Public Affairs Elena Pernia, NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia, VP for Planning and Finance Joselito Florendo, VP for Development Elvira Zamora, and VP for Administration Nestor Yunque. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO)

 

Pernia’s CMC colleagues join her after she took her oath of office. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO)

 

Pernia is a member of the Department of Communication Research with a rank of Professor 12. She has over 20 years of experience in communication/media education, research, planning and evaluation.

Her highly distinguished academic career focuses on capacity-building of students, local governments, health professionals, and civil society organizations to design, implement, and evaluate their own communication programs.

She has authored several books, including Communication Research in the Philippines: Issues and Methods, which has become a standard textbook in research classes in several universities. Her research efforts cross various fields, including effectiveness of educational television programs, science communication, and news diversity.

Pernia was a board member of the Social Science Division of the National Research Council of the Philippines and the International Communication Association. She was also part of the editorial board of the Communications Review of the University for Asia and the Pacific. From June 2012 to June 2016, she was the Readers’ Advocate at the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

In 2015, Pernia received the Communication Excellence in Organization Award.

 

After the seriousness of an oathtaking ceremony, Pernia gamely smiles for the camera with her daughter-in-law Jonah and granddaughter Luna. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO)

 

Pernia surrounded by well-wishers. (Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO)