Universidad San Sebastián Appoints Carlos Williamson as New Rector

The USS Board of Directors unanimously appointed Carlos Williamson, former Pro-Rector and Vice-Rector for Economic Affairs and Finance at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, as the institution’s new Rector. Williamson succeeds Hugo Lavados and returns to a position he previously held between 2018 and 2022.

The Board of Directors of Universidad San Sebastián (USS) unanimously approved the appointment of Carlos Williamson Benaprés as Rector of the university. He officially assumed the position on April 1, returning to lead the institution after serving as Rector from 2018 to 2022. He succeeds Hugo Lavados Montes.

Carlos Williamson is a Full Professor at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the same institution and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Chicago.

Throughout his academic career, he has served as Pro-Rector and Vice-Rector for Economic Affairs and Finance at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, as well as Director of Studies and Planning and Director of the Institute of Economics within the Faculty of Economics and Business. He is also a researcher at the Latin American Center for Economic and Social Policies (CLAPES UC) and at Universidad San Sebastián.

In the public sector, Williamson served as Chair of Chile’s Senior Public Management Council, Director of the Civil Service Directorate at the Ministry of Finance, and a member of the National Education Council.

“I deeply appreciate the trust placed in me by the Board of Directors, and I am honored to return to the Rector’s Office at Universidad San Sebastián,” said Williamson.

“I take on this responsibility with great commitment and enthusiasm, with the goal of continuing to strengthen the university’s development and progress toward academic excellence. We will continue to reinforce USS’s contribution to the country, its social commitment, and its regional presence, always with quality as our guiding principle.”

Carlos Vio, Chair of the USS Board of Directors, highlighted the significance of the appointment: “The arrival of Carlos Williamson strengthens our institutional project and reinforces the university’s position as one of the country’s leading higher education institutions. USS has a clear commitment to contributing to Chile through the education of professionals, the generation of impactful knowledge, and a strong social and regional vocation,” he said.

Vio also expressed his appreciation for the work carried out by Pro-Rector Javier Valenzuela during his tenure as Interim Rector.