(Zaragoza, Thursday, April 24, 2025). Rafael de Miguel González, researcher at the University Institute for Environmental Sciences of Aragon (IUCA) and member of the ARGOS research group, has been appointed Academic Director of the Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC). He will join Isabel Núñez Gracia, who takes on the role of Managing Director, in leading the institution.
As stated by the Government of Aragon in its official announcement, both appointments were approved on Thursday, April 18 by the Board of Trustees of the ZLC Foundation, chaired by Octavio López, Regional Minister for Public Works, Housing, Mobility, and Logistics. ZLC is a center promoted by the Government of Aragon in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Zaragoza.
Rafael de Miguel is a full professor at the University of Zaragoza and holds doctorates from the Universities of Paris and Valladolid. A geographer and expert in transport geography, urban planning, territorial organization, and geopolitics, he is one of the most internationally recognized researchers at the University of Zaragoza. With over 30 years of teaching experience, three six-year research periods, more than 200 scientific publications, and as principal investigator of over 20 European projects, he has received the two highest global academic honors in his field: the AAG Honors and the IGU Award, an achievement reached by only twelve researchers in seven decades.
He served as Vice Dean for International Relations at the University of Zaragoza for 13 years, managing partnerships with universities across the EU, the United States, Asia, and Latin America, and has conducted research and teaching stays at more than 30 institutions worldwide. He also served for eight years as Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Zaragoza. In addition, he is a member of the European Academy and President of EUROGEO, the European Association of Geographers.
His extensive experience in teaching, research, and academic management, combined with his international recognition and leadership, and his ability to design and coordinate academic and research programs, were key to his appointment as Academic Director of ZLC. His capacity to work with world-class institutions such as MIT and the University of Zaragoza, and his commitment to excellence and innovation, are expected to contribute significantly to the prestige and development of the foundation at regional, national, and international levels.
For her part, Isabel Núñez Gracia previously served as Director of the European Programs Department at the Business-University Foundation of Zaragoza (FEUZ), where she also coordinated the Events Management Department and corporate communications for the past 15 years. Since 2019, she has been an adjunct professor in the Department of Accounting and Finance at the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR), where she teaches subjects such as Financial Management, Risk Management, Accounting, Financial Instruments, and Derivatives. Additionally, she serves as an independent evaluator for the Spanish Service for the Internationalization of Education (SEPIE) and for the competency recognition process in professional qualifications.
New Leadership for a New Stage at ZLC
Isabel Núñez Gracia and Rafael de Miguel take on their new roles at a pivotal time for the Zaragoza Logistics Center, as the institution enters a new phase aligned with major trends in Aragon’s logistics expansion, the arrival of major investments in new technologies and data centers, and the region’s commitment to the DAT Alierta Technology Park.
Together, the new directors will work to enhance the center’s academic offerings, aligning them with current market needs; promote value-added, business-oriented training; expand the teaching staff to ensure continued excellence in education—aiming to maintain the ZLOG Master’s global leadership; and strengthen external partnerships, forging strategic alliances with institutions and companies to boost talent attraction and influence in key economic sectors.