Digital Education Council promotes María Oliver Román to lead global operations and LATAM and Spain

Oliver Román will oversee member operations for DEC’s 200+ institution network while leading engagement and expansion across Latin America and Spain

María Oliver Román has been promoted to Director, Global Operations, Regional Lead LATAM & Spain at the Digital Education Council

The Digital Education Council has promoted María Oliver Román to Director, Global Operations, Regional Lead LATAM & Spain, expanding her remit as the higher education network passes 200 member institutions globally.

Oliver Román took up the role in August 2026 after previously serving as Director Operations & Engagement at DEC. Her new responsibilities include leading engagement, new business and expansion across Latin America and Spain, alongside directing member operations across the organization’s international network.

Writing on LinkedIn about the promotion, she said: “We’ve just reached 200+ member institutions globally, and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow our operations and strengthen our work across LATAM and Spain, with lots happening over the coming months.”

The Digital Education Council brings together universities, colleges, business schools and vocational providers working on areas including AI adoption, digital learning, governance, sustainability and workforce development.

Its membership model combines research, peer collaboration and advisory support, including executive briefings, working groups, summits and training resources.

From DEC’s founding operations to regional expansion

Oliver Román has been involved with DEC since its early development, initially building its operations function and setting up systems for member onboarding, support and engagement.

She later moved into the Director Operations & Engagement role, where her remit included member operations, the organization’s operating model, procurement and billing.

Her new position adds direct responsibility for Latin America and Spain, working with universities, companies and governments across those markets.

Before her work with DEC, Oliver Román held operations, partnerships and expansion roles across education, fintech and startup organizations, including SuperCharger Ventures and the Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship.

Her international experience has included work across Spain, the UK, UAE, Italy, Malta and Singapore.

Appointment follows DEC and Columbia AI center launch

The promotion comes shortly after DEC announced a new Center of Excellence for AI in Teaching and Learning in collaboration with the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University and the Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning.

Announced at the inaugural DEC Leadership Summit Americas in New York on September 12, the center is intended to connect DEC’s global higher education network with Columbia’s academic and teaching expertise.

Its initial work will include research into how AI is reshaping engineering and computer science education, alongside online courses giving educators and professionals discipline-specific guidance on teaching with and about AI.

DEC CEO Alessandro Di Lullo says the center is designed as a longer-term space for institutions to work together on changes to teaching and learning.

“AI is raising new questions about how we teach, what students need to learn and how institutions support faculty through that change,” he says.

The council says the research and professional learning developed through the center will form the first stage of a broader program of work with universities across its network.

Oliver Román’s expanded role now combines that wider international growth with responsibility for the operating model supporting DEC’s 200+ member institutions.