Carlos Angulo Galvis, a pivotal figure in the growth of higher education in Colombia as a rector of the Universidad de los Andes, and a licensed civil engineer who was a past ASCE Colombian Section board member, has died. He was 87.
As rector from 1997 to 2011. Galvis, P.E., F.ASCE, led a renaissance of the institution aimed at strengthening academic excellence and research. It transformed curricula, expanded the faculty in number and qualifications, and promoted equity through programs such as "Quiero Estudi" (I Want to Study). In Colombia his reputation as an educator and promoter of knowledge transcended the classroom and left its mark on engineering as well.
Galvis began as an adjunct professor of engineering in 1964, then taught as a full professor for 34 years. He served on the engineering faculty advisory committee and the university’s board of directors, which he chaired for several years.
Galvis was a life member of ASCE and served on the Board of Directors of the ASCE Colombian Section.
The university’s Faculty Development Program is considered one of his greatest legacies. Dozens of professors from engineering and other schools were able to pursue and earn doctoral degrees at universities abroad, creating an academic culture and reputation that thrives today.
For these and other contributions, the university awarded him its highest recognition, the Gold Medal in 2023, part of the celebration of the university's 75th anniversary.
Beyond his institutional positions and achievements, those who knew him highlight his unwavering commitment to educating new generations, his generosity as a teacher, and his ability to inspire others to dream big and build with rigor. He was an engineer with the soul of an educator, and a leader with a vocation for service.
