Asbel Navarro Proposes to Pull UNACHI Out of the Financial Crisis in Panama.

Absel Navarro, the new rector of Unachi, will have to face a series of challenges, including administrative questions, investigations by Antai and the Public Prosecutor’s Office for alleged irregularities, lack of transparency and a complex financial situation.  After winning the elections on August 19, Navarro emphasized that: “Today has been a victory for UNACHI, a victory for all of Panamanian society that wants change. The institution must get closer to private enterprise and international organizations, respecting freedoms and guaranteeing educational quality.”  One of the main problems to face is the financial crisis.

Regarding this issue, the professor said during his campaign: “From the first day of our administration, we will establish a technical working group to address the problem with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).  There are also problems with the Ministry of Education (Meduca) acting as mediator, in order to find a solution to the crisis, but always prioritizing the acquired rights enshrined in our internal regulations, laws, and statutes.” 

In light of the selection of the new rector, the university community is calling for greater transparency. Professor Cristian Nieto, for example, stated: “We professors hope for a higher level of academic standards and that all procedures will be conducted transparently, with the primary goal of ensuring that students graduate with the best possible skills and are prepared to succeed in the workforce.” 

From the administrative side, Jazmín Quiel, the office secretary, stated that “the new administration must immediately focus on professionalizing the civil service and designing a new Job Manual that reflects reality.” This means transparent merit-based competitions, effective training, and the implementation of a fair salary scale that recognizes and values ​​the work of its employees.  For his part, student leader Derek Bartlett said, “As students, we hope the new administration will bring stability to the university.

We know the newly elected chancellor will have a short term, but he will face the great challenge of gaining the government’s trust to secure a budget that reflects reality.”  According to the electoral calendar, the official proclamation of the new rector will be on August 28th and the inauguration on the 31st.  Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas officially left her position as rector on June 8, 2026

Profile of the New Rector.

Holds degrees in Law and Political Science, Marketing, and Business Administration, and is a professor in the Faculty of Administration. With over 25 years of experience at the Autonomous University of Chiriquí, he also holds master’s degrees in Management Science, Strategic Management, and Higher Education. He has a diploma in Governance.

Unofficial Results.

Although the official results have not been revealed according to the results of the general count and the weighted voting system of the university, Navarro obtained 44.22% of the total support, far surpassing his main contenders.  Candidate Rosemary Hernández came in second place with 27.9%, while Ramón Rodríguez reached 21.5%.

Period of Etelvina de Bonagas.

After more than 13 years at the helm of UNACHI, Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas pictured above, ended an extensive tenure that began in 2013 and concluded in June 2026. Her rectorship was marked by questions about the administrative management, the growth of the payroll, the financial situation and complaints that led to investigations.

Rectors of Unachi.

Since its creation as an autonomous institution in 1995, the Autonomous University of Chiriquí (UNACHI) has had five principal rectors in its history: Dr. Roque Lagrotta (1995–1997), Mgtr. Virgilio Olmos (1997–2008), Dr. Héctor Requena (2008–2013), Mgtr. Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas (2013–2026) and the newly elected Absel Navarro, pictured below.