Woodbury University names a San Jose State dean as its next president

Woodbury University’s next president will be the current dean of San Jose State’s business school, officials have announced.

David M. Steele-Figueredo is expected to take over next month at Woodbury, a private, not-for-profit school that enrolls about 1,500 students at its campuses in Burbank and San Diego. Woodbury is best known for its career-oriented programs in architecture, business, interior design, fashion and animation.

Steele-Figueredo has served as dean of San Jose State University’s Lucas College & Graduate School of Business for seven years. Before entering academia, he had a long international business career including being president of Chevron Latin America.

Steele-Figueredo succeeds David P. Dauwalder, who served as interim president since March and will resume his previous role as Woodbury’s executive vice president and provost. Woodbury’s previous president Luis Maria R. Calingo served for nearly three years and is now president of Holy Angel University in the Phillipines.

Steele-Figueredo said in a statement that he wants to strengthen Woodbury’s reputation and its profile in the market — “and to begin to do so immediately.” He also said he would emphasize student success, fundraising and alumni engagement.

Born in Venezuela, Steele-Figueredo attended Birmingham University in England, where he earned a bachelor of science and a doctoral degree in chemical engineering.

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