Carlos Ávila Vega is a senior academic leader, structural engineer, and researcher with more than twenty years of experience in university governance, institutional development, and academic transformation. He served as Founding Rector of Ecuador’s emblematic IKIAM University, Scientific and Academic Coordinator during the creation of Yachay Tech, and is Founding Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Construction at Universidad UTE. His leadership focuses on building resilient institutions, advancing quality assurance, modernizing education through innovation and emerging technologies, and shaping high-impact research agendas. He has led international alliances, competitive funding initiatives, and curriculum reforms with strong emphasis on ethics, sustainability, and public value. His research integrates structural and earthquake engineering, computational mechanics, and responsible AI, including explainable human–AI teaming in structural analysis, sustainability-driven seismic design, multiscale modeling of granular and biomechanical systems, and STEM education innovation. He has authored work in Journal of Biomechanics, Buildings, Energies, Urban Water Journal, Structural Concrete, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, and Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. His current agenda seeks to bridge engineering, artificial intelligence and institutional leadership to enable safer, smarter and socially-responsible systems for society.