After an extensive international search and the diligent screening of candidates, the Board of Trustees of the University of the Southern Caribbean has voted to appoint Dr. Colwick Mervyn Wilson as the 29th President of USC. Dr. Wilson, an alumnus of Caribbean Union College (now the University of the Southern Caribbean) is of Guyanese heritage. His career journey has honed for him an impressive vita of academic and administrative experience and professional renown that robustly positions him to advance USC’s global reputation and stature.
Dr. Wilson is appropriately qualified for the challenge before him. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) Degree in Theology from Caribbean Union College, now USC, a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership and Counseling, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Dr. Wilson comes to us from our sister Seventh-day Adventist university, Oakwood University, Alabama where he has been serving as Provost and Senior Vice President since the fall of 2017. Before his appointment at OU, he also served in leadership and academic roles at Loma Linda University, California and the Ohio location of Kettering Health Network. He also possesses non-denominational academic experience, and served as an associate professor at the University of Michigan.
An ardent researcher, Dr. Wilson has a strong record of executing solo research projects and participating and leading research teams. His published work appears in several peer-reviewed journals and he has been quite active as a presenter and participant on the academic conference circuit particularly in the areas of social and health sciences. Dr. Wilson is also very experienced in successful proposal and grant writing and has served as the principal investigator for single and interdisciplinary grant awards.
Dr. Wilson is a visionary, innovative, and collaborative leader with an extremely engaging personality. He is the consummate professional and places premium value on the spiritual well-being of the people he leads and interacts with. This is not at all surprising, since his earliest academic degree was in the field of theology and in the nascent phases of his career he served as a pastor – a calling he has not since relinquished.
Dr. Wilson is married to Dr. Deleise Cole-Wilson. They have two adult daughters: Chidinma and Corliss.
Dr. Wilson is expected to assume duty on July 01, 2021. The USC family and constituency welcome Dr. Colwick Mervyn Wilson and his family and wish them God’s blessings as they take up the mantle of leading this illustrious institution “Beyond Excellence”.
