María Iraburu Elizalde named new President of University of Navarra

María Iraburu Elizalde, a biology professor and university administrator, has been appointed President of the University of Navarra (UNAV), of which IESE forms part.

Iraburu is the first woman to lead the university in its history and will take over in January 2022. She replaces Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero, who had been the President since 2012.

Iraburu is a graduate of the University of Navarra and also completed a Programa de Alta Dirección de Empresas (PADE) at IESE in 2019. She has been a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and has researched extensively in her field. She has also held administrative positions within the university, most recently as head of faculty.

In an initial statement, Iraburu thanked professors, students, employees and alumni for their contribution to the institution. “Each one contributes talent, vision, commitment to work well done. We’re all important for this adventure to continue, for the new and unexpected to occur, for the University of Navarra to continue surprising us in the years to come.”

IESE is the business school of the University of Navarra. Click here for more information on the new president.