Dr. Edward Roekaert joined Golden Gate University as Executive Vice President and Incoming Provost on March 1, 2026, and will assume full responsibilities as Provost on July 1, 2026. In this role, he leads the university’s academic strategy as GGU advances a global, multilingual, and AI-focused educational model.

Dr. Roekaert brings over a decade of transformative leadership in higher education. He most recently served as Rector and Chief Executive Officer of Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), one of Peru’s leading private universities, from 2014 to 2026. Under his leadership, UPC achieved sustained growth in enrollment and research output and ranked among the top universities in Peru for scientific productivity. He previously served as Rector of Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola and is widely recognized for strengthening academic quality and accreditation standards across Latin America.

A committed voice in global higher education governance, Dr. Roekaert currently serves as a Commissioner with the WASC Senior College and University Commission and as a board member of NAFSA. He has also served on the board of the Federation of Private Institutions of Higher Education of Peru, on IESALC-UNESCO’s University Presidents’ Sustainability Network, and as President of Universia’s MetaRed TIC Perú. In 2025, the Peruvian government honored him with the Palmas Magisteriales in its highest degree of Amauta — a lifetime achievement award recognizing his extraordinary contributions to higher education.

Dr. Roekaert holds a Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism Administration from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research and in Hospitality Administration from Cornell University, and an advanced management degree from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Spain. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Universidad del Pacífico in Peru.

At GGU, Dr. Roekaert’s initial focus will be on expanding GGU’s online programs while working alongside faculty to explore new schools of emerging technologies and psychology, and other curricular innovations — continuing the university’s longstanding mission to serve working adults locally, nationally, and globally.