Today, August 1, 2020 Fr Mars P Tan SJ assumes his new important mission of leadership as President of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan.

Fr Mars succeeded Fr Roberto “Bobby” C Yap SJ who today, also takes the reins of Ateneo de Manila University. In his last memo Fr Bobby left Xavier Ateneo with this assurance “I leave you in the most capable hands of Fr Mars Tan SJ, a dear friend and brother. Fr Mars has served XU for the past 10 years and he will continue to bring his many gifts of conviction, determination, compassion, wisdom and human warmth to his new role as President.”

Fondly called as “Father Mars” by his friends and colleagues in the field, he holds a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Notre Dame Australia; an MS in Environmental Science from the University of the Philippines; an MA in Theology from the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila; and a BS Biology from Ateneo de Davao. 

Born and raised in Surigao del Norte, Father Mars has deep roots in Mindanao. He was a Jesuit Regent assigned to teach at XU High School from 1992 to 1994. 

For the past ten years, he has been Rector of the Jesuit Community at Xavier Ateneo. 

He is a current member of the XU Board of Trustees and incumbent director of the McKeough Marine Center of Xavier Ateneo. 

Since 2009, he has been an assistant professor at the XU Biology Department. His other leadership roles include board memberships at Manila Observatory and Xavier Science Foundation. His teaching, research, publication and advocacy has always been on environmental concerns.

The whole Xavier Ateneo community welcomes Fr Mars and assures him of the all-out support as he begins his new journey as University President.