Dr. Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali, the first woman and fifth regular Chancellor of the Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography is a member of the Mindanao State University System Board of Regents (MSUS BOR). She received her Ph.D. in Forest and Natural Resources Management on a Fulbright Scholarship at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), Syracuse, New York, U.S.A. in 2007. She obtained her Master's Degree in Tropical Forestry at the Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Germany on a Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)/German Academic Exchange Service Scholarship in 1999.
Before becoming a chancellor, Dr. Guinto-Sali was the first woman Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents of the Mindanao State University System for five years (2012-2017). She also served MSU-Marawi as Director of the Institutional Research and Evaluation Office, Special Assistant at the MSU Office of the President, Chairperson of the Department of Environmental Studies and the College Secretary of the College of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She holds an academic rank of Professor VI at said college and is also a Licensed Forester. As an academic, Chancellor Sali has presented papers in conferences here and abroad and has also authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications.
A consistent Chancellor's and Dean’s Honors Lister at MSU Marawi, Dr. Guinto-Sali obtained her Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree, Magna Cum Laude and was chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) in 1993. In recognition of her exemplary performance as a student leader, she became a recipient of the University Student Leadership Award (USLA) and the College Leadership Award in the same year. Among her other major awards are the following: MSU Achiever (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996); House of Sara Lee Woman of Distinction for Youth Leadership (1996); Sultan Kudarat Award for Education (2018); Outstanding Alumna of the MSU College of Forestry & Environmental Studies (2019); and the 2019 President Diosdado Macapagal Award for Education for being an outstanding Lubenian given by local government of Lubao, Pampanga.
Moreover, during her graduate studies at SUNY ESF, she was awarded a World Fellowship by the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Dr. Guinto-Sali was a straight "A" student and was given recognition by SUNY ESF for having a Grade Point Average of 3.98 (with 4.0 being the highest achievable grade).
Other fellowships and grants she received were Erasmus Plus Programme in the Republic of Turkey (2017); New York Sea Grant (2005-2007); Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Scholarship (1997-1999). In 1994, Chancellor Sali represented the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and was one of the members of the Philippine Delegation in the 21st Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP). SSEAYP is an annual youth exchange program organized by the Government of Japan and ASEAN countries for the purpose of promoting friendship and mutual understanding among the youth of their respective countries.
The MSU Sining Kambayoka Ensemble, a multi-awarded theater group, acknowledges Chancellor Sali as their member having performed with the group in various theatrical productions during her elementary and high school days.
In 2018, Chancellor Sali was donned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM) at the 10th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG), Army Reserve Command, Philippine Army, Cagayan de Oro City.
