Meet the new President of Universidad de Manila

Universidad de Manila (UDM) has a new president. She is none other than Ma. Felma Carlos-Tria, Ed.D., M.A. Comm Mgt. Dr. Tria is the 16th President of UDM upon unanimous appointment of the UDM Board of Regents.

She finished her primary and secondary education in St. Scholastica’s College. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism as a college scholar and member of the honour roll at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. She finished her Master of Arts in Communication Management at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, as well as her Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from the same university. She has earned units in Doctor of Philosophy in Media Studies from the University of the Philippines under the Presidential Scholarship.

Dr. Tria is a staunch advocate of high quality and world-class education. Prior to her assumption as president, Dr. Tria served various administrative and leadership positions at Southville International School and Colleges as the Graduate School, Undergraduate and Overseas Programs Director, concurrent with the position of Dean of the Colleges of Communication and Multimedia Arts. Past Chairman of SEED Foundation, and was the President of Asian Foundation of Student Leaders.

In addition, she takes the lead in accreditation initiatives (PQA, ISA, PACUCOA, ISO, AUN, etc.), including the application and grant of the institution’s Autonomous Status by Commission on Higher Education (CHED). She was instrumental in the opening of Southville-RAK (Ras Al Khaimah) and the Southville Global Campus. Dr. Tria is presently an accreditor of Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA), and Assessor of Philippine Quality Award. She steered these organizations to new heights by implementing and leading various initiatives that contributed to their development, improvement and in the attainment of their goals and objectives.

As an academician and professorial lecturer in Southville International School and Colleges affiliated with Foreign Universities offering programs from United Kingdom and Australia, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila-Graduate School, she made significant contributions in the field of mass communication, public relations, and leadership and administration. She once worked as a Supervisor at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Manila, Reporter and Segment Producer for both GMA 7 News and Current Affairs and RPN 9 News and Public Affairs.

Furthermore, among her other professional and community engagements, Dr.Tria has presented her numerous researches in various local and international conferences as well as acted as resource speakers in various fora here and abroad. Attached to her name are the numerous publications printed in reputable and peer-reviewed journals. She also attended many local and international conferences and seminar-workshops in mass communication, public relations and other fields of endeavour.

Dr. Tria occupies active memberships and positions in the different organizations such as the Media, Information and Communication Centre, Asian Congress for Media and Communication, Philippine Association of University Women, Philippine Association of Communication Educators Foundation, Inc. National Organization of Professional Teachers, Inc.

Her expertise in educational leadership, management, administration, operations, instruction, mentoring, research and quality assurance, among others, is unparalleled. These undertakings led her to receive numerous awards from different local and foreign institutions. One of which is the Outstanding Educator in the category Faculty with Administrative Function STAR Excellence in Teaching Award awarded by the Consortium of the South. From Southville International School and Colleges, she received Service Award (15 years), ISO Internal Quality Audit Award as Best Auditor, Best Research Awards among others. She also received Certificate of Excellence on Effective Educational Practices for Accreditation from EDXEL USA, iLearn Charter School Academy and Saint Paul Christian School, Guam, USA; Certificate of Recognition for sharing her research on “Media Influence on the Filipino Youth in Relation to Social Issues and Initiatives” from the University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, USA; Certificate of Recognition as Paper Presenter from the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre, Inc. at the 25th Annual Conference 2017 “Rethinking Communication in a Resurgent Asia”given by AMIC, and Tanging Banggit Award from the Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila.

UDM’s new President is determined to give her very best in elevating the status of the university as a CHED-recognized Higher Education Institution, further upgrade its physical and digital infrastructure, improve the welfare of faculty and staff, and most of all, transform the lives of the poor but deserving youth of the City of Manila.

UDM WELCOMES DR. TRIA WITH A WARM AND CORDIAL HEART!