Barriteau lauds the UWI’s women leaders

Retiring principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Most Honourable, Professor Eudine Barriteau, is applauding the increasing number of women assuming senior leadership roles at the Cave Hill Campus.

Even more pleasing to the UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor and gender equality advocate, is the fact that many of these positions are in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) areas, for which women were once not represented in significant numbers.

Speaking at a recent on-line forum to celebrate her more than 30 years of academic excellence and leadership at the UWI, Professor Barriteau highlighted the accomplishments of many young women who accepted the challenge of faculty and department management.

“As pro vice chancellor and principal I am really very pleased that on demitting office . . . to see a current crop of UWI leaders emerging at the Cave Hill Campus,” she told an online forum of university graduates, faculty, friends, and students.

Highlighting the historic appointment of Dr Jeanese Badenock, who has been named Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Barriteau said Badenock will become the first woman to head this faculty at any of the UWI campuses. “I had the pleasure of recommending her, and the

University Council approved the recommendation,” Professor Barriteau disclosed.

In addition, the retiring Pro Vice-Chancellor, who was awarded Barbados’ highest national honour, also mentioned the appointments of Dr

Mechelle Gittens to head the Department of Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics and Dr Avril Williams who heads the Biological and Chemical Sciences Department.

“So here we have a faculty at the campus led by women.

We still shouldn’t have to single these things out but it is still not yet taken for granted . . . . We also have a head of the Department of Economics, Dr Mahalia Jackman, a young woman who is prolific and who I’m watching very seriously because she publishes and is active and also chairs our timetabling committee.

“I am also very proud of the men who are there but I’m exceedingly proud to see the women emerging. I am also happy to see many Professors and Deans who are now leaders who started like me on this academic journey as research assistants or assistant lecturers.

“It is very satisfying to see them rise to the fore and occupy positions of leadership. I congratulate Professor Justin Robinson, Professor Troy

Lorde, Professor Dwayne Devonish, Professor Donna-Maria Maynard, Profwwessor Philmore Alleyne, Professor Aaron Kamugisha, Professor Isabelle Constant, and these are all persons who emerged in the last three to four years,” she added. The outgoing Principal also paid tribute to Deputy Principal Professor Winston Moore.

(IMC1)