Executive Retreat and Re-tooling for USC Administrators
Authored by: Mr. Hayden McKenna, University Writer/Editor
With the public health measures to mitigate the spread of COVID 19 being relaxed by many national governments and with the nascent signs that the pandemic might be headed to epidemiological remission, the leadership of the USC has begun to prepare for what undoubtedly will be a thoughtful, well-sequenced reboot of the in-person university. Cognizant that a successful reboot requires more, much more than an artless regression to pre-pandemic transactions, the President’s Cabinet participated in a special two-day leadership retreat on March 02 and 03, 2022. The retreat was held at La Soledad Estate, deep in the Maracas Valley. The theme of the retreat was “Policies, Processes and OUTCOMES: An Executive Mind-set”. USC President Dr. Colwick Wilson explained, that the major idea behind the retreat, was for university leadership to get a clear sense of the university’s existing policy framework, to try to map out processes with measurable outcomes that would be pursued with a mind-set oriented to execution and results.
The impressive battery of presenters, included professionals, carefully drawn from the global Adventist higher education and health sectors, the Caribbean regional tertiary education sector and corporate Trinidad and Tobago. The six featured presenters and their presentations in the order they appeared were as follows:
Dr. John McVay, President
Walla Walla University, USA
Presentation title: “The Executive Mind-set in Times of Stress.”
Dr. Prudence Pollard, Vice-President
Quality Assurance, Research, and Faculty Development, Oakwood University, USA
Presentation title: “Executive Mind-set: View of Self & Others.”
Dr. Haldane Davies
Vice President for Business Development and Innovation
University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas Campus
Presentation title: “Executive Mind-set: Framing the Effective President’s Cabinet.”
Mrs. Shirley Lake-King
Vice President of Administration and Finance
University of the Virgin Islands
Presentation title: “Collaborating as Essential Partners.”
Mr. Conrad Enill
Chairman
The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago
Presentation title: “Disruption –The New Normal.”
Mr. Carlyle Walton
President
Adventist Health Policy Association
Presentation title: “So you want to be a Leader!”
The devotional speaker for both days was Dr. Roy Adams, the Grenadian born alumnus of Caribbean Union College (now the USC), who has given decades of distinguished service to the global Adventist Church in the roles of pastor, theologian, scholar, columnist, associate editor, author and administrator.
These dynamic presentations were punctuated by opportunities for sharing, reflection, team building, case study analysis and strategy refinement. The university’s executive leadership also benefitted from affirmations from the President of the Caribbean Union Conference and Chairman of the USC Board of Trustees, Dr. Kern Tobias and from the President of the South Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Leslie Moses, who both made cameos as special guests.
Commenting on what was accomplished at the retreat, President Wilson said that it was “an inspirational and informative time for the executive team. We were challenged and encouraged to consider the merits of adopting a high level of functioning via the executive mind-set. It was a time of refreshing, a time of renewal, a time that allowed us to cast a vision that will lead us into our centennial celebration.”
- Published in News, Office of the President
An Overview of the President’s Brown Bag Series
Author: Susan Chand, PhD – Director, Office of Research & Innovation
Origin
President’s Brown Bag Series was launched by the former President, Dr. Trevor Gardner after USC was awarded a university status by the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago in 2006. Brown Bag Series was envisioned to be a platform for intellectual discourse and discussion for faculty at USC. The first lecture was delivered by an erudite Professor of Sociology, late Dr. Letroy Cummings from the School of Social Sciences. Dr. Cummings’s lecture drew from his extensive research based on content analysis of newspaper articles on intimate partner violence in Guyana. His work was published in the USC Journal of Research Volume II (2011) entitled “Incidents and Explanations of Romantic Homicides in Guyana”. This was the only series that was launched.
Academic Forum
In 2015, Academic Forum was launched along the same objectives as the President’s Brown Bag Series. Academic Forum was conceptualized by the then Dean of Distance Education, Dr. Sylvan Lashley to offer engaging and constructive discussion around the presentations of scholarly work by faculty, staff or students. Two Academic Forums were held each semester.
The first Academic Forum was launched by the President, Dr. Clinton Valley on September 2, 2015, with Dr. Lashley and Ms. Colleen Letlow presenting their findings on their study, “Entrepreneurial teams at work: concepts and practices – live case. Since then, the Office of Research and Innovation has been hosting Academic Forums till the academic year 2020.
President’s Brown Bag Series Relaunch
The President’s Brown Bag Series was relaunched by our newly appointed 29th USC President, Dr. Colwick Wilson on November 10, 2021, via the zoom platform. This event featured Dr. Amanda Thomas, PhD, Research Methods and Statistics, Office of Research and Innovation, School of Graduate Studies and Research, USC. Her presentation was based on her doctoral thesis, “Differences in Academic Achievement between African American and African Caribbean Students studying in the United States: A Meta-Analysis”. This relaunch attracted over 40 attendees from USC community, members of the academic from the tertiary institutions of Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean, and the United States.
President’s Brown Bag Series – 2 – A Phenomenal Lecture by Dr. Hansel M. Fletcher
On January 26, 2022, Dr. Hansel M. Fletcher, an accomplished scientist and professor of molecular genetics/biochemistry of microbial diseases with focus on oral bacterial pathogens delivered a seminal lecture on “Overcoming Environmental Stress: Survival skills and the impact of the oral microbiome on the host”. Dr. Fletcher is currently an Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Affairs and Professor of Microbiology and Genetics in the School of Medicine at Loma Linda University, California.
The Office of the President and the Office of Research and Innovation jointly hosted this event. The session commenced with an opening prayer by Dr. Llyod Jacott, Chaplain at USC. Dr. Susan Chand, Director of Research and Innovation, extended a warm welcome to all the attendees, and presented an overview of the President’s Brown Bag Series at USC. Dr. Colwick Wilson welcomed Dr. Fletcher and formally acknowledged the presence of all the attendees including Dr. Sanjay Ramnanan, President of the Dental Association of Trinidad and Tobago and Dr. Rahul Naidu, Professor of Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine. The attendees included faculty, staff and students at the University of the Southern Caribbean, faculty and students from the School of Dentistry and the Department of Microbiology, UWI, members from the Dental Association of Trinidad and Tobago and Dentists and Medical Doctors from the Caribbean and the United States. Also among the attendees were Dr. Wayne Greaves, Executive Director, Infectious Diseases, Merck Research Laboratories, New Jersey, USA and Dr. Walter Murray, Managing Director, Leadership Training LLC, USA. Over 46 attendees were present at this event. Dr. Sanjay Ramnanan rendered his greetings and presented an overview of the Dental Association of Trinidad and Tobago. Dr. Edward Clarke, Dean, School of Social Sciences and Interim Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research introduced Dr. Fletcher. Dr. Angelle Bullard-Roberts responded to Dr. Fletcher’s lecture and mentioned that the diverse socio-cultural practices of the people of Trinidad impact their oral hygiene need to be addressed while making strides in oral health and overall well-being. She also iterated the need for collaborative research with the Loma Linda University, Dental Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the School of Dentistry. This was also expressed earlier by Dr. Ramnanan and later in his speech by Dr. Naidu. Dr. Rahul Naidu also responded to Dr. Fletcher’s lecture and asked a question ————(need to view the video for his question to Dr. Fletcher). Dr. Wanda Chesney accorded a vote of thanks to all contributing parties of the event, Dr. Fletcher, and the invitees. Dr. Kenneth Niles brought a close to the invigorating afternoon by a word of prayer.
Highlights of Dr. Fletcher’s Lecture:
Dr. Fletcher elucidated oral diseases as global health challenge affecting over 3.5 billion people globally. These chronic clinical conditions range from dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal (gum) disease, and cancer. He emphasized the relevancy of physical, social and psychosocial functioning as core elements for oral health and overall well-being. Dr. Fletcher highlighted the periodontal disease as an interaction of multiple factors leading to inflammation and bone loss. He further illustrated the host-microbe interaction that cause inflammation and bone loss. It was an astounding revelation that unhealthy teeth can be a causative factor for Alzheimer disease, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and insulin resistance, adverse pregnancy outcomes, respiratory tract infection and bacterial pneumonia. Towards the end of his lecture, Dr. Fletcher acknowledged his past and present research team and their landmark research on Filifactor alocis’ virulent attributes and interactions with periodontal pathogens, namely Pophyromonas gingivalis. His future project involves integrating current and novel techniques to modulate Dysbiotic Oralome.
- Published in News, Office of the President, Research and Innovation
USC joins in mourning the sudden passing of alumnus Pastor Livingstone Aaron
The University of the Southern Caribbean (USC) is saddened by the recent passing of its alumnus, Pastor Livingstone Aaron. We join with several others in expressing our deepest condolences to his wife Cynthia (also a graduate of CUC/USC), his close relatives, friends and ministerial colleagues.
According to a release by the Caribbean Union Conference (CARU), at the time of his sudden passing, Pastor Aaron was serving as pastor of the Stroudsburg district, which includes the Stroudsburg, Pocono Grace, and Mount Pocono Haitian churches in the Pennsylvania Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in the United States.
Prior to migrating to the US in 2013, Pastor Aaron served as the Director of the Caribbean Union Revolving Fund (CURF) and is credited as an architect of its growth to redoubtable viability. Before his elevation to that directorship at the CARU, Pastor Aaron, a native of Antigua and Barbuda and a member of a prominent Adventist family there, served with distinction in pastoral ministry in the North Caribbean Conference.
Pastor Aaron’s formal preparation for ministry began at Caribbean Union College (now USC) in the second half of the 1970s. Among his contemporaries at CUC, was Dr. Colwick Wilson, the current President of USC. Dr. Wilson remembers his college-mate as “a diligent worker, a creative mind, a dedicated student… He was a friend of all. He consistently built relationships with others. He was passionate. He was clearly a man ahead of his time.”
Livingstone Aaron graduated as a member of the Class of 1982 with a Bachelor of Theology degree. With an unabated passion for ministerial preparation, he went on to Andrews University, Michigan, USA and there earned a Master Divinity degree in 1985. In 1990, he received the sacred rite of ordination.
Pastor Livingstone Aaron, in his life and career, modelled the USCian ethic and was an extraordinary servant of God to humanity. He had also grown accustomed to hearing and submitting to the voice of his Heavenly Father. That voice he will hear again on that great getting-up morning, and by the force of habit, he will respond in obedience and with victory over the sting of death. Let us all be comforted by this blessed hope.
- Published in News, Office of the President
Officials of the Kettering Health Network Visit USC
Authored by: Hayden McKenna
From November 11th to 13th 2021, officials of the Kettering Health Network, based in Ohio USA visited the main campus of University of the Southern Caribbean. The delegation of two, was given a physical tour of the new home of the School of Nursing and Allied Health on the main campus and a virtual tour of USC’s south Trinidad campus.
As guests of the President of USC, the visiting delegation also met with administrators and leaders of the university and participated in cordial discussions about ways in which synergistic partnerships can be developed between both institutions and more broadly among higher education institutions in the global Adventist Education system. Such partnerships, rightly arranged, could serve to promote the ongoing enhancement of the quality of our educational products, the experiences we can afford our students and the services we can offer to our communities. The backdrop of a pandemic, provides a riveting illustration of the universality of some of our most persistent problems and the imperative to leverage ever broadening circles of co-operation.
The visit particularly provided Dr. Wilson – who in a previous cycle of his professional life, worked at the Kettering Health Network – with a precious opportunity to broker another promising institutional friendship for USC.
Though restricted by pandemic conditions, the delegation was also exposed to social and worship experiences at USC before jetting home.
- Published in News, Office of the President
President Wilson’s First 100 Days in Office
Authored by: Shelley Lyons, Assistant Professor & Publications Officer, USC Faculty Senate
The quest to measure a nation’s President’s initial days in office began rather memorably with US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933. He began his presidency during a very challenging time in American history: the Great Depression. He coined the “first 100 days in office”, which he began by launching many critical initiatives to bring relief to America’s devastating economic crisis. This Americanism that has become a ubiquitous metric of the early impact of leaders, has its original association with what for the US – and possibly the world – became presidential greatness.
In July of this year, the Board of Trustees of the University of the Southern Caribbean appointed Dr. Colwick Mervyn Wilson as President of the university. His appointment, like Franklin D. Roosevelt’s, comes at a very challenging and memorable time in history: this time, it is during the COVID-19 pandemic.
So, just as many presidents after Roosevelt have been assessed for their likelihood of a successful administration, the first 100 days of Dr. Wilson’s presidency are presented here as a means of sharing his initial strategies, that will ultimately become part of his legacy.
Dr. Colwick Wilson was born in Guyana and is a proud alumnus of CUC/USC. He studied Theology as a student at CUC/USC and following a stint of pastoral practice in the Guyana Conference, went on to the US where he completed a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Michigan, a Master of Arts degree in Leadership and Counseling from Eastern Michigan University, and then a PhD in Sociology from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Wilson is married to Dr. Deleise Cole-Wilson and together they have two adult daughters Chidinma Wilson and Corliss Wilson.
His appointment to USC was received with delight and anticipation. Though, it was the first time in the history of the ninety-four-year-old institution, a presidential appointee was interviewed, introduced and installed remotely.
In his position as President Elect, while still in the US, the Guyana American Missionary Endeavour hosted a virtual event, “Let’s Talk with President Wilson” that revealed enthusiastic national, regional and international support for his election. This was on April 24th 2021.
Thereafter, Dr. Wilson engaged in many programmes before physically arriving on the main campus. These included the commissioning and dedication ceremony for the new University Auditorium and home of the School of Nursing and Allied Health on May 26, as well as the eighty-eighth graduation exercises from June 18-20, where he participated as President Elect and guest of honour.
Dr. Wilson officially assumed duty as President on July 1st, 2021.
From his first day in office, Dr. Wilson has kept quite a hectic schedule of internal and external engagements with stakeholders that has included appearances at alumni activities, fundraising ventures, the annual Colloquium and quite a number of introductory meetings and courtesy calls with leaders in denominational, state and civic organizations.
He has resurrected the celebration of Founders’ Day at USC and this year the commemoration was themed “Celebrating our Legacy: Reconnect, Recommit, Reimagine”. This programme was truly a strategic outreach that allowed USC to reconnect with many alumni family, and friends, who have become ambassadors that exemplify USCian men and women, across the globe. Founders’ Day 2021 also saw the launch of Dr. Wilson’s “Get on the Bus Fundraising Campaign”. Drawing on the metaphor of a Caribbean bus-ride outing, the campaign appeals to all supporters of our university to purchase actual tickets and take an excursion with us to a stronger university that is enabled to meaningfully improve value proposition to the church and its young people and to the Caribbean region.
Dr. Wilson has also set his eyes on the historic milestone of USC’s 100th anniversary celebration, due to take place in 2027. That anniversary celebration, he envisions, will be unlike any in USC’s history.
Since Dr. Wilson’s arrived on the main USC campus in Maracas, St. Joseph, Trinidad and Tobago, he has hosted the President’s Convocation. This was held in September and showcased never before seen snippets of USC’s deans’ acting skills and creative prowess. The President’s Convocation was memorably encapsulated “Living Courageously: Faithfully and Fearlessly”. His training in hermeneutics and experience in motivation shone brightly.
Dr. Wilson has met with the Honourable Esmond Forde, Member of Parliament for the constituency of Tunapuna, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who paid him a courtesy visit on September 30th, 2021. This was an introductory gesture to ensure the partnership and cordial relationship between the university and its neighbouring constituency.
On his 100th day in office, Dr. Wilson met with the USC Faculty Senate, the elected representatives of the faculty, and recounted important milestones.
He has held town meetings with internal stakeholders including deans, chairs, faculty and staff. He says he needed to meet with and listen to his constituents. He has begun an audit of some staff to ascertain the demography of campus personnel under his care. He has met individually with Board of Trustees members, as a means of forging closer ties. He has engaged denominational stakeholders, the local pastors of the South Caribbean Conference and presidents of conferences and missions within the Caribbean Union. This outreach to those in the Caribbean Union is to initiate spiritual support and foster engagements for present and future initiatives. He has also set his radar on the Inter-American Division and the research opportunities and partnerships available through such linkages. He has begun talks with corporate stakeholders, such as Nestle Caribbean and academic institutions such as Howard University with a view to future collaborations. He has also strategically engaged state officials in various governments of CARICOM building-out his field of co-operation and relational resources in the region. The President has commenced alumni outreach and has also sourced sponsors who have already vowed financial support to USC. Additionally, Dr. Wilson has even made overtures to overseas sponsors who may have no specific links to USC, or who may never have donated to the university before.
Dr. Wilson often refers to USC as “Miracle Valley” [his term], where miracles still do take place.
President Wilson sat for an interview in mid-October to discuss his vision and faculty matters and provided some intriguing insights.
His real reason for leaving his distinguished career in the US, to return to his alma mater, is rooted in a history of prioritizing Christian education and wanting to give back to the church and young people. He does admit he was encouraged by some close to him, to apply for the position, with hopes of closer collaboration and lucrative partnerships with sister institutions.
When asked about seeming intentional in engaging all stakeholders, and what he would like to achieve for faculty by the end of his presidency, Dr. Wilson had a bucket list including:
i. Faculty development
ii. Faculty contributing to national and regional discourses, in the media, on topical issues
iii. Faculty earning more attractive salaries with incremental annual wage increases
iv. Faculty participation in governance and operations of the university that is meaningful
v. Health and well-being of faculty and all employees
Note, Dr. Wilson also has great plans for students, alumni, the various extension sites and international stakeholders too.
He shared his views of the COVID-19 era and believes the greatest downside is the loss of life of so many people around the world, as well as the long-term health effects. Sadly, the President has lost many loved ones to the virus.
He sees the greatest blessing of the pandemic as the technological adaptations from which all have been able to benefit.
He admitted that what he most wished he had brought from the US to the campus are resources! Computers, lab equipment etc.
As a leader, he now sees his greatest weakness as his previous experience. That has affected his expectations and assumptions. But, as President of his alma mater, his greatest asset is his resilience. He is not fearful of the challenges and always strives for personal and professional growth.
So far, Dr. Wilson most appreciates USC’s many Christian employees who are committed to SDA education. He describes them as caring, decent and passionate. He loves the prevalence of prayer on the campus and treasures the growth of the institution since his time as a student.
The slower pace of Caribbean life is tremendously appealing to him, as well as the culturally inbred “liming” trait of Trinbagonians.
As the USC President’s first 100 days in office has been shared, we do trust and pray that the inspiring and responsive leadership style evident in President Wilson will continue to advance the Lord’s commission. His early initiatives portend a positive trajectory. Do continue to pray for the growth and success of this President and may God continue to lead him as he leads. Also, do continue to support USC by your donations, attendance or sponsorship.
- Published in News, Office of the President
Get on the Bus Fundraising Campaign Launch
By Simone Augustus, Corporate Communications Officer
Excellence Express awaits!
From Caribbean Training College to University of the Southern Caribbean, our voice in the valley has strongly echoed as we have grown in size, status and service to society. Throughout the years, though change has been a constant, we have remained steadfast in the quest for institutional progress and innovation.
As USC remains dedicated to the holistic development of the heads, hearts and hands of our USCian men and women we invite you Get on the Bus as we raise TTD$3.4M for our priority projects:
- Construction of the University Church
- Student Scholarships
- Furnishing of the Timothy Greaves Residence Hall
- Furnishing of the newly constructed School of Nursing and Allied Health
Visit usc.edu.tt/getonthebus to book your seat on Excellence Express today – tickets start at USD$600.00!
We call on your passionate generosity to secure the continuation of our celebrated legacy of providing transformative education on pillars of Intellectual Curiosity, Cultural Diversity, Moral Integrity and Spiritual Nurture.
With your support today, our future alumni will undoubtedly return the favor to the USCians of tomorrow!
Join us on Sunday, November, 28, 2021 at 5:00pm for the official launch of the Get on the Bus Fundraising Campaign! Join the stream on YouTube and Facebook as we depart on our journey Beyond the horizon of Excellence!
- Published in News, Office of the President
Courtesy Visit to Mayor Junia Regrello of San Fernando
By Simone Augustus, Corporate Communications Officer
On Wednesday, October 20, 2021 the USC Administration and USC South Campus Teams paid a courtesy visit to His Worship The Mayor Alderman Junia Regrello at the San Fernando City Hall.
Present were President of the University of the Southern Caribbean, Dr. Colwick Wilson; Dr. Wanda Chesney, Provost, and Ms. Ebony Burton, Director of the USC South Campus.
This visit saw the formal introduction of Dr. Colwick Wilson as President of the University of the Southern Caribbean to Mayor Regrello.
The University of the Southern Caribbean remains dedicated to its long standing record of service to the city of San Fernando and looks forward to continued collaboration.
- Published in News, Office of the President
Andrews University names its Church History Suite after USC Alumnus
On September 25th 2021, the Church History Suite at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary (SATS) at Andrews University (AU) was named after the very influential, retired professor and pastor, Dr. Walter Baxter Theophilus Douglas. Positioned in a conspicuous place of honour on the upper floor of the building, is an artist’s portrait of the man who in 1972, became the first person of colour to join the teaching faculty of the SATS at AU. Dr. Douglas served with distinction as a scholar and member of teaching faculty at the ATS and in several other roles at AU for thirty-five years.
In his acceptance speech at the naming ceremony, Douglas, an alumnus of Caribbean Union College, Andrews University, McGill University and McMaster University chose to single-out Caribbean Union College (CUC) – now the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC) – as the veritable point of original inspiration for the distinguished life of service he has led.
Walter Douglas – at the insistence of his mother – came to the campus of Caribbean Training College (the immediate institutional forerunner to CUC) in the early 1950s from his native Grenada. He was an impressionable, eager, and intellectually curious sixteen-year-old. His studies on the campus prepared him for the gospel ministry in the first instance, and also laid a solid foundation for his illustrious career as a scholar, consultant, servant-leader and the many other interesting things he has done with his life.
Douglas graduated from CUC as part of the very impressive class of 1958 and entered a brief stint of pastoral ministry in Port of Spain, Trinidad. His ambitions quickly took him to AU where he completed a baccalaureate degree in theology. He soon returned to CUC in 1963 as a member of its teaching faculty. Later in that year, he married Yvonne Sebro, an alumna of CUC and the daughter of Pastor Frederick A. Sebro – one of the first male students at East Caribbean Training School (the earliest formation of USC). Yvonne has been his supporter and partner in ministry, parenthood and life for almost fifty-eight years – and yes, they had a CUC campus wedding.
In 1964, Walter Douglas was one of quite a few youthful members of CUC’s teaching faculty to leave for North America to further their studies. He returned to Andrews University and there, as an exceptional graduate student, he left such an impression that soon after he moved to Canada for further graduate study at McGill University, he was invited by then AU president, Dr. Richard Hammill, to join the teaching faculty at the seminary. Douglas negotiated a postponed acceptance in order to complete his studies at McGill. In 1972, he took up what by then was a three-year old invitation and joined the teaching faculty at the seminary. He specialized in church history and the history or religion. He later added the emerging field of multiculturalism and diversity studies to his academic and professional skillset and was the founder and first director of The Institute for Diversity and Multiculturalism at AU.
In the privileged position of professor at the seminary – the epicenter of Adventist thought, research, scholarship and pastoral training – Dr. Douglas immensely impacted the world church directly and through his former students. For seminarians, being taught by Dr. Douglas became a rite of passage. The full stretch of his influence there will only be known when the records of heaven are unsealed. As for the more measurable, his exceptional work as a teacher and scholar at AU, earned him the John Nevins Andrews Medallion in 1993 – the superlative award AU reserves for its best scholars.
The demands of academic and professional responsibilities did not ameliorate the burden of his call to pastoral ministry and the pulpit. He was one the founders of the All Nations Seventh-day Adventist Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA and was its senior pastor from 1980 to 2004. Even after his retirement from AU, Dr. Douglas continued active pastoral ministry in Florida.
Beyond the cloisters of the denominational work, Dr. Douglas’ expertise and body of work in the field of multiculturalism and diversity studies brought him many special assignments in various parts of the world. One of the most memorable of these assignments for him, was his call to participate in an interim transitional government in his birthplace Grenada, after the fall of the People’s Revolutionary Government and the US led military intervention there in 1983.
In a reflective conversation with Dr. Colwick Wilson, the current president of USC, Dr. Douglas expressed thanks to God for the privilege and opportunity of spending thirty-five years in service to Andrews University and the world. He considered it an opportunity to represent CUC/USC at that level and that it was an honour for him to do so. He added that no man is an island and as such, his success is tied directly to the University of the Southern Caribbean. It was at CUC/USC that he experienced a call to ministry; it was there that he found Jesus; and it was there that he found his wife. Dr. Douglas even somehow managed to ‘grand-father’ the impact of CUC/USC into his explanation of the success of his three very accomplished adult children. He argues with a persuasive conviction that the blessings that he and his wife received from CUC/USC translated into opportunities for their children to be educated at some of the finest universities in North America and to experience outstanding successes in their own careers. Their children are Vonda, a pathologist; Derek, an attorney, university administrator and former aide to former US President Barack Obama; and La Vonne, a clinical psychologist.
The president, administration, faculty, staff, student, alumni, family and friends of the University of the Southern Caribbean here record heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Walter B.T. Douglas on his most recent honour and the inspiration and pride it carries for the people of the Caribbean.
- Published in Alumni, News, Office of the President
Courtesy Visit by MP Esmond Forde
By Simone Augustus, Corporate Communications Officer
On Thursday, September 30, 2021 Dr. Colwick Wilson, President of the University of the Southern Caribbean received a courtesy visit from Hon. Esmond Forde, Member of Parliament for the constituency of Tunapuna. The meeting which took place on USC’s Main Campus in Maracas, St. Joseph.
This introductory meeting served to acknowledge and bolster the long standing bilateral relationship between the University of the Southern Caribbean and the constituency of Tunapuna, and gave assurance for continued collaboration.
USC remains a dedicated contributor to national and regional development.
- Published in News, Office of the President
President’s Convocation – September 20, 2021
The 2021/2022 academic year has officially begun!
USC’s 29th President, Dr. Colwick M. Wilson cordially invites you to attend our President’s Convocation on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 3:00pm as we welcome the University community and inspire our new and returning USCians to continue Beyond Excellence in this new academic year.
- Published in News, Office of the President