2018 – Present
“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction” – John F. Kennedy
These words serve as the guiding principle of the 3rd University President of the Northwest Samar State University – DR. BENJAMIN LAZARRA PECAYO
Benjamin L. Pecayo, popularly know as “Benjie” to his family and friends is the eldest and only son among the brood of five of Nemesio Aderes Pecayo who hails from Taft, Eastern Samar and Matrona Leguarda Lazarra, who is a native of Can-avid, Eastern Samar.
Born on March 31, 1966, Dr. Pecayo is known to be enthusiastic, curios, resourceful, and articulate. This could be attested of his being a consistent honor student from elementary to high school years. He graduated his degree in Bachelor if Science in Mechanical Engineering at Eastern Visayas State University in 1987 and was awarded as the YMCA Most Outstanding Student in his time. Among of his many achievements when he was still a student was his active involvement in various student activities and projects as Supreme Student Council President and Associate Editor in Secondary Department of the said school. Right after his graduation in college, he took the Mechanical Engineer’s Licensure Examination and obtained a rating of 88.8 percent.
In 1988, he started his teaching career at Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology, now Northwest Samar State University in Calbayog City, Samar. He then pursued his master’s degree in Master of Science in Management Engineering at University at San Jose – Recoletos in Cebu City and graduated from course in 1995. He continued teaching at TTMIST despite of considerable distance of the school from his hometown and eventually took his Doctor of Education major in Educational Management in the said school and finished the same in 2011.
As a proactive professional with extensive experience both in academic and administrative affairs of the University, Dr. Pecayo always has had a quench for learning, especially in fiscal/financial management and human resource management. He also became adept in supply and property management and procurement system and policy formulation and implementation, development planning, and organization and is well – versed with internal control system and operation.
For almost 30 years since Dr. Pecayo assume his responsibilty as member of the academic community of Northwest Samar State University, he had earned the respect as a reputable professor, most particularly in teaching management and engineering subjects in the undergraduate, masters, and doctorate courses. His steadfast and deep commitment to any responsibility or task assigned to him had led him to numerous administrative positions as the Dean of the College of Engineering, Vice President for Research and Extension, and Vice President for Administration in current capacity as Chief Administrative Officer, among others. As a Dean of the College of Engineering, he was responsible for the offering of the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Electronic Communications Engineering and Master in Engineering Management. Alongside with these major designations, he also chaired and spearhead various committees, such as, faculty selection and bids and awards, to name a few.
Part of his personal achievement was the publication of three books and engagement in various research and extension projects. With Dr. Pecayo’s expertise in management, research, and education. he took confidence in submitting himself for evaluation as one applicant for the position of University President. His application was reviewed by the Search Committee crated for the purpose and consequently, earned the majority votes from the members of the Board of Regents.
On his second term as University President, Dr. Pecayo continues to commit himself with passion and dedication in fulfilling the vision of the University through collaboratively working with his colleagues and creating an atmosphere of trust, productivity, and competitiveness.