Karel San Juan

Karel Santos San Juan, S.J. is a Filipino Jesuit priest who is the current president of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines. He also currently serves as the fifth president of Ateneo de Davao University, assuming office on September 14, 2023, and succeeding Fr. Joel Tabora. Prior to this, he was president of Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

Early life and education San Juan was born in Marikina, Philippines on June 16, 1965. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree from Ateneo de Manila University in March 1986. He earned his master's degree in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management in Makati in May 1993. He finished his Doctorate in Leadership Studies at the Gonzaga University, in Spokane, Washington, USA in May 2007. He also obtained a Bachelor in Sacred Theology degree from Ateneo de Manila University in March 2010.

Early career

San Juan started as an instructor and program officer for advocacy and social development offices in Ateneo de Manila University. He then expanded to being a consultant for strategic planning, development management, and organizational development for several government organizations in the Philippines including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (1993 – 1994), Department of Trade and Industry (1993) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (1996 – 1997). In 1996, he taught management courses at the Asian Institute of Management. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro City), Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University and the Emmaus Center for Psycho-Spiritual Formation.

On November 12, 2022, the Ateneo de Davao University Board of Trustees elected San Juan as the university's fifth president. He assumed the presidency on September 15, 2023.

As a professional From 2000 to 2004, San Juan was a consultant and facilitator of the Ateneo de Manila University Office for Mission, Identity, and Organizational Development. He also became program officer for the Center for Ignatian Spirituality (CIS-Philippines), and Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB) from 2000 to 2002, and he also served as Treasurer of the UGAT Foundation. He became executive director for the Emmaus Center for Psycho-Spiritual Formation in June 2007.