Urban redensification plan
Introduction
Ricardo Villanueva Lomelí (Guadalajara "Guadalajara (Mexico)"), Jalisco August 9, 1978) is a Mexican academic, lawyer and Master of Law from the University of Guadalajara. He is a teacher and doctor in Educational Technology from the University of Salamanca, Spain. He also completed a postdoctoral degree with the research “The University facing the challenge of training new generations” at the University of New Mexico, United States.
Currently, he is Undersecretary of Higher Education[1] in the Ministry of Public Education of Mexico, joining the government headed by the first president of this country,[3] Claudia Sheimbaum Pardo as of April 1[2].
He is the former Rector General of the University of Guadalajara, a position for which he was elected in 2019 and president of the University Cultural Center (CCU). During his management, the UdeG opened 51,748 new spaces for young people and achieved the admission of 100% of applicants[4] to Higher Secondary Education, with the opening of 4 new university centers[5] and 6 preparatory schools.
He carried out a Reform to the Pension System[6] guaranteeing its financial viability on a perennial basis and the University conquered the Constitutional Budget which guaranteed its financial autonomy.[7].
During his administration, the Medicine program became the best in Latin America[8] and its enrollment was expanded in 3 new locations,[9] of which 2 are in the interior of the state, in addition to the construction of the third hospital unit of the Civil Hospital in the east of Guadalajara, the area with the greatest backwardness in the metropolitan area.[10].
According to the National Ranking of Rectors of Public Universities, he was recognized as the Best Evaluated Rector in Mexico in 2023[11] and 2025,[12] considering his work to expand enrollment, improve the quality of education provided in classrooms and the improvement of facilities.
Personal data
He was born on August 9, 1978 in Guadalajara "Guadalajara (Mexico)"), Jalisco. He is the son of Arturo Villanueva Varela and Carmen Lomelí Cárdenas. Brother of Ernesto, David, Karla, Gabriela and Hilda. Husband of Araceli Alcaraz. Camila and Renata's dad.
His first contact with the University of Guadalajara was through his father, who was passionate about teaching and ended up transmitting to him the affection and love for teaching.