The University of the West Indies Alumni Association
The Florida Chapter
2024 Scholarship application is open
As a part of the celebration of Black History Month, UTECH and UWI Engineering Graduate Eric Hammond’s Engineering Firm HAMMOND & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING ENGINEERS was singled out by Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) for its outstanding contribution to the industry over the years.
UWI GRADUATE AISHA RAINFORD ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE JAMAICAN WOMEN OF FLORIDA 2024
The Jamaican Women of Florida (JWOF) proudly announces the election of Aisha Rainford as its new President. The election took place during the association’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday, February 17, at the Southwest Regional Library, Pembroke Pines, Florida. Ms. Rainford, previously served as Vice President of the organization.
With a distinguished career spanning community involvement, philanthropy, and corporate leadership, Aisha Rainford is set to bring her wealth of experience to the forefront of JWOF. A proud Jamaican, Mrs. Rainford has been an advocate for positive change within her community and a supporter of education through initiatives such as the Aisha King-Rainford Scholarship at the University of the West Indies.
UWI FLORIDA CHAPTER ALUM, DR. SHARON PORTER HELPING TO PROVIDE UNIFORMS FOR CHILDREN IN AFRICA
In January 2024, Dr. Sharon Porter instituted a uniform drive where funds were donated from church members and friends to purchase two hundred uniforms. Dr. Porter plans to make this an on-going project and is hoping to purchase more uniforms to accommodate the school’s growth. Other needs that will be funded in the future include backpacks, school supplies, and financial support for two additional members of the teaching stafff.
In January 2024, Dr. Sharon Porter instituted a uniform drive where funds were donated from church members and friends to purchase two hundred uniforms. Dr. Porter plans to make this an on-going project and is hoping to purchase more uniforms to accommodate the school’s growth. Other needs that will be funded in the future include backpacks, school supplies, and financial support for two additional members of the teaching staff.
DR. JUNE SOMMER, APPOINTED CHAIR OF UN PERMANENT FORUM FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT
Dr June Soomer, ambassador of the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Global Campus, has been appointed chair-designate of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD). The appointment took effect on January 1 this year. Ambassador Soomer received her PhD in History from The UWI in 1994 and was the first female to graduate with a doctorate in this discipline at the Cave Hill Campus.
As an accomplished author and historian, she served in the diplomatic, financial and educational fields regionally and internationally. Dr. Soomer has over 40 years of academic and professional experience in management, operational and technical areas; and continues to advocate for equality and equity in sustainable development, particularly in the Caribbean Region. She was the first woman to serve as St. Lucia’s Ambassador to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and CARICOM with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs, a position she held from 2008-2016. She also served as an OECS Commissioner and was the first female Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) from 2016-2020. Read more about Dr. Soomer HERE
CONGRATULATIONS TO UWI GRADUATE
DR. ETHLYN WILLIAMS
The new chair of the Department of Management at Florida Atlantic University is Dr. Ethlyn Williams. An accomplished researcher, with more than 15 years at Florida Atlantic University, Dr. William's research and and teaching interest include human resource management and mentoring, leadership, and teams.
She has published in some of the academy’s leading journals including, the Academy of Management Journal, Human Relations, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management Education, Journal of Organizational Change Management, Journal of Vocational Behavior, and The Leadership Quarterly. Prior to joining the faculty at Florida Atlantic University, Dr. Williams was a member of the faculty at the University of South Florida, and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
SPOTLIGHT ON GUYANA'S PRESIDENT DR. IRFAAN ALI
(https://op.gov.gy/index.php/presidents-biography/)
His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, was sworn in as Guyana’s Ninth Executive President on August 2, 2020. He was born on April 25, 1980, into a Muslim, Indo-Guyanese family at Leonora, West Coast Demarara, and is the holder of a Doctorate in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the West Indies, a Master of Arts Degree in Manpower Planning, a Post Graduate Diploma in International Business, a Post- Graduate Certificate in Finance from Anglia Ruskin University, an LLM Degree in International Commercial Law at the University of Salford and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons.) in Business Management from the University of Sunderland.
Dr. Ali previously served as Project Manager of the Caribbean Development Bank’s Project Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Finance and Senior Planner in the State Planning Secretariat. He previously served in the National Assembly where he was a leading spokesperson on the economy and finance. He served as chair of one of the most important committees, the Public Accounts Committee, and co-chair of the Economic Services Committee of the Parliament of Guyana.
Guyana president blasts journalist when discussing country’s oil reserves
