Dr. Cecilia S. Navasero-Gascon is no stranger to being a pioneer of change. Her previous feat of transforming a small college into a state University in Region IV-A is only overshadowed by her current tenure in revitalizing and strategic running of Bulacan State University (BulSU). She obtained her Ph.D. in Forestry and Silviculture from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños. She also has a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the American Heritage University of San Bernardino California, and a Ph. D. in Educational Leadership (Honoris Causa) from Akamai University in Hilo Hawaii. She received scholarships from the Canadian International Development Agency and the Southeast Asia Regional Center for Research and Agriculture for her MS and Ph.D.. She also finished two programs from the The Maastricht School of Management in The Netherlands though their fellowship program. With her expertise and experience, she has skillfully managed the five (5) campuses, thirteen (13) colleges, 1,100 faculty, 800 non-academic personnel, and almost 50,000 students of Bulacan State University as its first lady President. Her effective and prudent income management of the University's finances paved the way for substantial infrastructure projects since 2016, and through persistent lobbying at Congress, resulted in a steady increase in the University budget. Her skills and strategies in running the administration also transformed the century-old premier state university into an outcomes-based and results-driven Institution. Among her major operations include: the revision of the Institution's Vision-Mission statement, subjecting the University to ISO Certification (ISO 9001:2015), submission of the different programs to the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, Inc. (AACCUP) for program and institutional levelling, the establishment of the online enrolment process, the revision of the BulSU Student Manual, free medical examinations for the BulSU community, and producing numerous faculty scholars and intensive research efforts. Clearly, she is showing no signs of slowing down in her quest to further develop BulSU into a University with a 21st century learning environment.

Aside from being an administrator, Dr. Gascon is also a researcher, extension worker, trainer, and an advocate of environmental conservation and governance. At present, she is a full-fledged University Professor by virtue of NBC 461 regular evaluation. She is also the President of the SEARCA Fellows Association of the Philippines. Her numerous accolades include being granted the Adopted Daughter of Bulacan Award (2018), the UPLB Outstanding Alumna Award thrice (2017, 2015, and 2000), the Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan para sa Edukasyon in 2014, and the Exemplary Leadership Award in 2012 from the International Distance Education Accreditation League just to name a few. She has also published three (3) books, five (5) studies, and presented papers in the national and international scenes.