Judge Justo Pedro Castellanos released his book “En la Universidad”

Judge Justo Pedro Castellanos released his book “En la Universidad”
Santo Domingo,March 6, 2014

It features the presentation of the Rector of UNAPEC, Radhamés Mejía, and a foreword by former Minister of Culture José Rafael Lantigua. The event was presided by Monsignor Agripino Núñez Collado.

Judge of the Constitutional Court and former Rector of the APEC – UNAPEC University, Justo Pedro Castellanos Khoury, released his new book “En la Universidad” (At the University), which he dedicated to Founding Father Juan Pablo Duarte on the bicentennial of his birth.

The welcoming remarks were offered by Radhamés Mejía, UNAPEC’s current Rector, who expressed his joy at the release of this book. He also congratulated Judge Castellanos for releasing the speeches that were delivered during the ceremonies of his investiture as UNAPEC’s Academic Vice Chancellor and his farewell as Rector.

“I am pleased to have succeeded you as Rector, and today I am very pleased that you have returned to this institution, your home, to introduce us to and release to the Dominican society, what was your intellectual production associated to your academic work during the period you played leadership roles in our University,” he said.

The book “En la Universidad” was presented by Monsignor Agripino Núñez Collado. The prologue of the book was written by former Minister of Culture José Rafael Lantigua, who is also a writer.
The head table consisted of Radhamés Mejía, Rector of the APEC Universidad; Ligia Amado Melo, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology; Judge Justo Pedro Castellanos Khoury, the author of the book; Roberto Rodríguez Estrella, President of the Board of Directors of the APEC University; José Rafael Lantigua, former Minister of Culture; Franklyn Holguín Haché, President of APEC; and, Monsignor Agripino Núñez Collado, Rector of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra.

Dr. Castellanos Khoury said that the book “En la Universidad” contains 86 papers that make up much of his intellectual production during his years at UNAPEC, specifically between September of 2001, when he became its Academic Vice Chancellor, and January of 2012, when he left the institution as Rector, following his selection as Judge of the Constitutional Court.

“The book contains the speech I delivered when I became Rector, 11 speeches I gave during regular and special graduations, 13 profiles I read during ceremonies of awards that UNAPEC organized, and 14 book presentations,” he said.

Writing this work was decided in 2001 when he was appointed as UNAPEC’s Academic Vice Chancellor, knowing that, because of the nature of the appointment, he would have a strong involvement in various scenarios, since he failed to foresee during his years as a student at this university, that he would later also become its highest authority.

Several personalities from the various walks of life at the national level, especially from the academic and judicial sectors, as well as the family of Judge Castellanos Khoury, attended the event.