Rafael Castilla is the executive vice president and provost of Eastwick College, a New Jersey career-oriented institution offering certificates and degrees in health care, technology, and business. Dr. Castilla oversees strategic planning, program development, institutional and programmatic assessment, and institutional compliance at the state, programmatic accreditation, institutional accreditation, and federal levels.

Dr. Castilla began his career at Eastwick College 25 years ago as an instructor of medical courses. Seven years later, he joined the administrative staff and rose through the positions of associate dean, dean of academics, corporate director of education, and vice president for academic affairs to his current position. He led the process to convert three independent career schools to Eastwick College and develop a portfolio of associate and bachelor’s degrees, some of which hold programmatic accreditation.

Previously, Dr. Castilla held a private practice in aesthetic medicine in Bogotá, Colombia, where he also taught medical courses, served as the director of an aesthetics certificate program, and organized continuing education courses in aesthetic medicine.

Dr. Castilla is a member of the Academic Issues Committee of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council. As a member of the Academic Quality Subcommittee, he collaborated in drafting regulatory text to implement portions of P.L. 2021, c.27. He is a former commissioner and chair of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools and a former member of the Advisory Council for Rider University’s Executive MBA program.

Dr. Castilla holds an MD degree from the Corpas School of Medicine and an MBA from Rider University.