The University awards eleven new gold medals

Chancellor, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, has awarded the University’s Gold Medal to former faculty members Manuel Casado, María Pilar Civeira, Ana García Bercebal, Diego Martínez Caro, and María Jesús Renedo; and— degree scroll —posthumously to José Luis Illanes and Pedro Rodríguez García. In addition, Miguel Ángel Gallo, Pedro Nueno, Josefina Pujadas, and Carmen Rossinés of the IESE Business School have received the award.

The University’s Gold Medal is a special recognition for distinguished service awarded by the Chancellor. Since 1985, 28 such honors have been bestowed.

The “ submission ” ceremony will take place on Friday, February 18, 2028, as part of the University’s 75th-anniversary celebration framework . For its part, IESE will present the medals on Wednesday, December 22, 2026.

Professors, pioneers, and advocates for Schools and its services

Full Professor . Manuel Casado Velarde (Don Benito, Badajoz, 1948), who earned his graduate ’s degree (1972) and Ph.D. (1976) in Modern Philology , served as Vice President of faculty (1997–2007) and Dean of the School of Communication (1984–1990). Since 2004, he has been a corresponding member of the Royal Spanish Academy.

María Pilar Civeira (Zaragoza, 1952), professor of Internal Medicine and specialist at the Internal Medicine department t at the Clinic, served as dean of the School of Medicine ( School of Medicine ) from 2001 to 2010 and as director of the Department of Internal Medicine ( Cima ) from 2016 to 2022.

Ana García Bercebal (Jaén, 1940), a certified nurse specializing in rehabilitation, served as director of the Hospitality Department (formerly known as the Food and Housekeeping Department) at the Clinic (1979–2002), playing a decisive role in ensuring that patients experienced a welcoming and humane environment. In 2002, she began working at the University as the manager of the chapels until her retirement in 2011.

Diego Martínez Caro ( Seville, 1931), a cardiologist and cardiovascular surgeon, was one of the pioneers of the School of Medicine starting in 1958, and of the Clinic from the inception of the development of the project in 1962. He served as director of programs of study at the University (1964–1971), Associate Dean (1959–1963), and director of programs of study at the School of Medicine (1981–1987), as well as director of the department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Clinic (1986–1995).

María Jesús Renedo (Guernica, Vizcaya, 1942), who holds a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. in Pharmacy, was one of the pioneers of the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, which had been launched in 1964. She was the second woman to serve as director of the programs of study at the University (1986–1996).

Medals Awarded Posthumously t degree scroll

José Luis Illanes (Seville, 1933 – Pamplona, 2025) was graduate and held a Ph.D. from Sacred Theology. He served as Dean at the School of Theology (1980–1992) and as Associate Dean during two separate terms (1978–1980 and 1992–2003). Deputy Director (1995) and director (1998) for the Josemaría Escrivá Center for programs of study ; he was the first director of the Josemaría Escrivá Historical Institute (2001) and of its journal Studia et Documenta (2007–2013).

Pedro Rodríguez García ( Cartagena, 1933 – Pamplona, 2026), a graduate , and Doctor of Theology, was one of the pioneers of the School of Theology —originally the Instituto Teológico—during the 1967–1968 academic year. He served on the faculty and was the director of programs of study on that first board board of directors. He was Dean of the School of Theology (1992–1998).

The IESE Medalists

Miguel Ángel Gallo Laguna de Rins ( Zaragoza, 1933) began his professional career at IESE in 1966. Director of the Doctoral Program (1977–1989), he led the department of General Administration (1984–1990) and served as chair of the first Chair of business in Europe, a position he held from 1987 to 2003.

Pedro Nueno Iniesta (Barcelona, 1944) began his career at IESE in October 1968, where he held various positions as a professor , and executive. Throughout his degree program, he spearheaded innovations that shaped the evolution of the school and the European management landscape: he was the architect of the bilingual MBA (1980), the Executive MBA (1982), and the Global Executive MBA (2001).

Josefina Pujadas Rosich ( Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, 1947) served as coordinator of planning and activities at the business school’s Madrid campus (1983–1987) and later as director of internal affairs at that same campus. In 1988, she was appointed Director of Administrative staff s in Barcelona, a position she held until 2013.

Carmen Rossinés García ( Barcelona, 1940) was Deputy Director of IESE’s Master's Degree Program. For more than four decades, she became a role model for generations of students, faculty, and staff at the school, particularly following the launch of the bilingual program in 1980.