Dr. Manuel Muñiz
Manuel Muñiz, President of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, former Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, and a full member of the Royal European Academy of Doctors (READ), assumed the position of Rector of IE University in Madrid on December 20. He will combine this role with the Presidency of IE New York College. Until now, Muñiz served as Dean of the School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs at the institution.
As highlighted by the university itself, Muñiz has a long-standing academic career. He holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Oxford and a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University. He has directed Harvard’s Transatlantic Relations Program and has served as President of the APSIA academic network, which brings together the world’s leading schools of international affairs, politics, and global studies. In this new stage, Muñiz will focus on strengthening the institution’s global presence and strategic development, reinforcing academic excellence, and fostering faculty growth and research, the university noted in a statement outlining the action plan presented by the new rector.
«We want to promote positive change through research, education, and innovation. I am grateful for the support of our entire institution—its schools, teams, and especially its leadership. Their forward-looking vision and international experience are essential to successfully advancing our main strategic projects», said the academic. Meanwhile, IE University’s President and Founder, Diego del Alcázar, emphasized that this appointment represents a significant step for the institution, noting that Muñiz combines academic leadership, management skills, and a deep understanding of the global environment. In this new phase, Salvador Carmona will continue as Rector of IE University in Segovia, while Juan Santaló will remain Vice-Rector for Faculty and Research. In addition, the management team has been renewed with new vice-rectorates and the appointment of Macarena Rosado as Secretary General in Madrid.
Muñiz joined the READ in 2024 with his inaugural address, «The Fracture of the International Order», in which he underscored the importance of effective diplomacy in the new international landscape, highlighting the role Spain can play as a bridge between the Global North and the Global South. His work as a researcher and lecturer has been recognized with various awards and fellowships, including the David Rockefeller Fellowship awarded by the Trilateral Commission, the 2017 Young Leader Award from the Körber Foundation, the Millennium Fellowship from the Atlantic Council, and the fellowship granted by the Eisenhower Foundation. In 2016, Esglobal named him one of the 25 intellectuals redefining Ibero-American thought.
