Rector of the University of Oviedo

Ignacio Villaverde Menédez studied Law at the University of Oviedo, concluding his degree in 1988, year in which he joined the Constitutional Law area of the Asturian University as a research and teaching fellow. In 1993 he became Doctor in Law with the highest qualification and “cum laude” unanimously by the court that judged it.

From that date, Ignacio began an academic career focused primarily on research on freedom of expression and information and related rights, on the general theory of fundamental rights and on constitutional justice, to which he eventually added other lines of work on the territorial organization of the State, on the right to the protection of personal data, and on transparency. He is the author of four books on these subjects, and of a hundred scientific articles published in national and foreign journals of recognized prestige. He is also a regular lecturer in academic and non-academic forums and has given seminars and courses in Spain, Italy, Germany, Mexico and Cuba. He is also a regular contributor to various regional and national media, and for years has had a fortnightly column in a regional newspaper.

In addition to his academic activity, he has also had an extensive professional career that began in 1998 when he joined the Constitutional Court as a lawyer. He has been Secretary of the Department of Public Law, Secretary General of the University of Oviedo, where he has also been Vice-Rector, member of its Disciplinary Commission, member of the Communication Council of the Principality of Asturias, Director of the extraordinary chair of the Fundación Instituto Universitario Ortega y Gasset, and Director of the Legal Department of the City Council of Gijón. He has advised public and private entities on Public Law matters and is currently Rector of the University of Oviedo.