Media Release

Mangaluru, Jun 5: Dr Rio D’Souza took charge as the principal of St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC), Vamanjoor, on June 1.

Dr Rio D’Souza succeeds Dr Joseph Gonsalvis, who served the institution as principal from November 2007 and relinquished his office following his superannuation in May 2018. Dr Joseph Gonsalvis, was the third Principal to serve the institution and during his tenure, the institution has risen to become one of the best engineering colleges in Karnataka. An academician with 43 years of experience, Dr Joseph Gonsalvis is greatly respected by the teaching fraternity and student community spread across the globe. A disciplinarian and a thorough professional, Dr Gonsalvis was recently bestowed with the title ‘Distinguished Researcher of SJEC’ for his contribution to research and innovation in the field of Mechanical Engineering. Dr Gonsalvis will continue to serve the institution as chief of Research and Development, SJEC.

Dr Rio D’Souza joined SJEC in 2006 and has served the institution as Head of the Computer Science and Engineering department, dean of Computer Applications, dean of Academics, and as vice-principal of the institution. Dr Rio D’Souza is often credited for the transformational change in the academic culture of the Institution. Being the head of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell, Dr Rio D’Souza spearheaded the accreditation programme in the institution and oversaw SJEC being accredited by NBA, New Delhi for the period 2013 to 2019. His leadership has led to SJEC being recognized as a transformational leader in engineering education by the Indo Universal Collaboration in Engineering Education (IUCEE). Dr Rio D’Souza is also an active researcher and is currently guiding seven PhD students. A dynamic personality, Dr Rio
D’Souza is known for his passion towards engineering education. An able administrator with decades of industrial and academic experience, Dr Rio D’Souza will now hold the mantle and take charge over the growth of the institution.

The management of SJEC led by Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, director of the institution, along with the faculty and students, congratulated Dr Rio D’Souza on his new position and wishes him the very best in all his endeavours. The institution also expressed gratitude to Dr Joseph Gonsalvis, the outgoing principal, for his service and contribution to SJEC and conveyed their best wishes to him.