More than Documents, Beyond Numbers: Honoring the University Registrar’s 42 Years of Vincentian Service
Date Posted: May 6, 2025 at 03:48 PM
Amid the fast-paced university life, the Registrar’s Office upholds academic integrity, managing records, verifying credentials, and overseeing enrollment and graduation. At its helm, Associate Professor Emilia M. Vicencio, with 42 years of service at Adamson University, has left a lasting impact on students and colleagues alike.
Mrs. Vicencio’s journey at Adamson University began in 1981 as a Mathematics instructor. With her natural talent for numbers and problem-solving, she not only became a beloved teacher but also a leader, serving as department head for eight years.
Known for her warm yet disciplined approach, she fostered a learning environment where students felt encouraged rather than intimidated.
“I want students to feel excited whenever they attend my class,” she recalls in a mix of English and Filipino. “Every lesson, I try to incorporate a little humor, a little joy—because when students are happy, they learn better.”
The same, as Mrs. Vicencio shared, is the same in her office work, saying, “Gusto ko jolly environment. Every time na mag-approach ako, gusto ko meron akong konting comedy. Kaya minsan tinutulaan ko sila, o kakantahan kasi mahilig ako roon.”
Her dedication to education was evident in her methods. She was never the type to create a rigid, fear-driven classroom. Instead, she encouraged participation, even embracing poetry and playful banter to keep the atmosphere lively.
“Sometimes, I even speak in verse,” she shared with a chuckle. “Why? Because learning should never be dull.”
Despite her love for teaching, Mrs. Vicencio later transitioned to a different yet equally vital role—that of niversity registrar. Taking on the responsibility of managing thousands of academic records, she became the guardian of student credentials, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with institutional and government regulations.
Even in this administrative capacity, Mrs. Vicencio carried her signature warmth. She believed that a registrar’s office should not be a place of bureaucratic coldness but of guidance and understanding.
“Yes, we deal with documents, numbers, and policies, but at the core of it all are people—the students, the parents, the faculty. We’re here to serve them, not to intimidate them,” she said.
Her leadership style in the office mirrored that of her classroom: lively, engaging, and compassionate. She greeted her team every morning with an enthusiastic “Good morning! What’s good about the morning?”—a habit that set a positive tone for the day.
“I wanted a happy workplace,” she shared with a chuckle. “When the atmosphere is light, the work follows smoothly.”
Beyond processing forms and signing papers, she built relationships. She celebrated birthdays by personally cooking for her staff—her macaroni salad and roast beef became legendary in the office.
“More than anything, I want them to remember not just my work, but the warmth I brought to it,” she said.
Despite her many achievements, Mrs. Vicencio admits regretting not pursuing a PhD, saying she wished she had but hesitated due to fear and reluctance to embrace technology. While she excelled in designing logical systems and workflows, she avoided digital advancements, relying on traditional methods. She recalls sticking to PowerPoint presentations, never fully exploring tools like Canva or cloud-based platforms and only adopting online banking out of necessity during the pandemic.
Her apprehension toward technology, however, never hindered her effectiveness. Instead, she bridged the gap by conceptualizing processes and guiding tech-savvy colleagues in implementing digital solutions. Though she lacked programming skills, she understood system flows, determining the necessary steps and sequences—an expertise she considers just as essential.
Her retirement, after more than four decades of service, is bittersweet. The thought of stepping away from the institution that shaped much of her life brings a mix of emotions—gratitude, nostalgia, and a tinge of sadness.
“Forty-two years is no joke,” she says. “I wasn’t even sure I wanted to be interviewed about this because it makes me emotional. But I realized, this isn’t just about me. It’s about the years, the people, the memories.”
As she closes this chapter, her legacy remains etched not just in university records but in the hearts of those she has influenced. The students who remember her engaging classes, the colleagues who felt her kindness, the office staff who will miss her hearty cooking— true markers of her impact.
More than documents, beyond numbers, Mrs. Vicencio’s service to Adamson University has been a symbol of what it truly means to be a Vincentian educator: to serve with excellence, to lead with compassion, and to leave behind not just files, but a legacy of warmth and humanity.
