Biography: Fr Roberto "Bobby" C Yap
Fr Roberto C Yap SJ is the 31st President of Ateneo de Manila University.
Yap is a Filipino priest, economist, and educator, appointed to the position by the Board of Trustees of Ateneo de Manila University last 3 August 2019. He assumed office 1 August 2020, succeeding Fr Jose Ramon T Villarin SJ, who was president from 2011 to 2020.
Fr Bobby, as he is commonly known, was most recently President of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan (2011-20). Some of the notable events during his term as Xavier Ateneo president was the school's involvement in the recovery and rehabilitation efforts of XU's home city Cagayan de Oro post-Typhoon Sendong; engagement in the rehabilitation of Marawi City; accreditation of its college, junior high, and grade school programs; and numerous infrastructure and campus developments.
Before leading Xavier Ateneo, Yap was Province Treasurer of the Jesuit Philippine Province (2007-14); Assistant Professor, Department of Economics at Ateneo de Manila University (2002-11); Research Associate, John J Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues (2002-11); Province Assistant for Social Apostolate, Jesuit Philippine Province (2004-09); and Environmental Economist at klima-Climate Change Center, Manila Observatory (2002-06).
He was also Acting Director of the Institute on Church and Social Issues (ICSI) (1993); Acting Parish Priest of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Cagayan de Oro (1992); Project Director, ICSI (1988-1992); and an instructor at Ateneo de Manila High School (1980-82).
Yap has a PhD in Economics from University College London (2002); a Master in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (1995); MA in Theology and Bachelor in Sacred Theology (STB), summa cum laude, from the Loyola School of Theology (1992); MA in Economics from New School for Social Research (1988); and an AB in Economics (Honors), cum laude, from Ateneo de Manila University (1980).
At present, he is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, and Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
Yap entered the Society of Jesus in 1982, and was ordained into the priesthood in 1992.
He was born in Cebu City, Philippines on 16 May 1959. He is fluent in English, Tagalog, and Cebuano.
