Josimar Batista Appointed Rector of Federal University of Acre After 4-Month Delay
Professor Josimar Batista Ferreira has been officially appointed as the rector of the Federal University of Acre (Ufac) for the 2026-2030 term. The appointment, published on Friday, July 24, in the Official Gazette of the Union, follows a nearly four-month period after the elections. The decree, signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Minister of Education Leonardo Osvaldo Barchini Rosa, takes effect on August 12, when Batista will assume his duties.
Batista, who was the vice-rector at the time, was chosen by the academic community in the second round of elections on March 26, securing 52.74% of the votes. In an unusual outcome, his vice-rector will be Professor Almecina Balbino Ferreira from the opposing ticket, 'Juntos pela Ufac'. Ferreira, who had initially led the 'Juntos pela Ufac' ticket, received 53.2% of the votes for vice-rector, a higher percentage than Batista's for rector. This marks an unprecedented situation where the rector and vice-rector come from different electoral slates.
Josimar Batista is a full professor at Ufac with a background in Agronomy, holding master's and doctoral degrees from the Federal University of Lavras. His extensive experience at the institution includes roles as course coordinator, campus director, pro-rector of Research and Postgraduate Studies, interinstitutional cooperation advisor, and vice-rector for two previous terms. Almecina Balbino, a graduate in Agronomic Engineering with advanced degrees from UNESP and a postdoctoral fellowship from the New York Botanical Garden, currently serves as a professor and is the university's first pro-rector of Innovation and Technology. The election process involved 15,599 eligible voters, including students, faculty, and administrative staff, with votes weighted equally among the three groups.
The appointment of Josimar Batista as rector of the Federal University of Acre, following an election where the rector and vice-rector emerged from separate tickets, highlights evolving dynamics in university governance. This outcome, while unprecedented, reflects a potential shift towards prioritizing specific leadership competencies over traditional party-line unity. The extended period between the election and the official appointment may indicate bureaucratic processes or a period of negotiation to ensure functional collaboration between the chosen leaders. Looking ahead, the success of this administration will likely depend on its ability to foster a cohesive leadership team and leverage the distinct strengths of both the rector and vice-rector, navigating the inherent challenges of a potentially divided mandate within the framework of academic and administrative priorities.
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