Vincentian woman heads UWI Global Campus, SVG

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Global Campus has announced the appointment of Vincentian, Dr Resa Noel-McBarnett as Head of Site, St Vincent and the Grenadines, effective October 1, 2024.

A release from the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal, notes Noel-McBarnett’s “distinguished career in the public sector”.

Just prior to her new appointment, Noel-McBarnett’s served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture. She earlier also served as the Director of Training in the Service Commissions Department. Before that she was an Education Officer in the Ministry of Education. At the level of the schools, Noel-McBarnett taught at Bishop’s College, Kingstown, first as a Graduate Teacher, then later as Head of the Language Department, and subsequently as Deputy Principal.

“Her scholarly achievements are complemented by several prestigious scholarship awards,” the university’s release states.

A graduate of the Girls’ High School, and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC), Noel-McBarnett was received the Sir Arthur Lewis Award to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Literatures in English (Special) at The UWI Cave Hill Campus. After some time, she obtained a Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship to

pursue a Master of Philosophy degree in Education at The University of Cambridge. Later, she was granted a New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship to complete a Doctor of Philosophy in Education at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Dedicated to developing her pedagogical skills, she completed an in-service postgraduate Diploma in Education programme from The UWI Cave Hill Campus, which was delivered at the time by the SVGCC.

The UWI says that over the years, McBarnett has shown a commitment to service, always putting people first. Further that she “understands that education is not merely an avenue for personal advancement but a powerful tool for empowering communities and driving regional advancement”. Pro Vice-Chancellor & Principal, Dr Francis O. Severin is said to be delighted by this appointment.

“My reading of Dr McBarnett’s national accomplishments and generally her background in various spheres, totally assures me that she joins us at the opportune time,” he is quoted as saying. “ The Global Campus Site in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is poised to become perhaps our foremost Site, and in light of my expectations of Dr McBarnett, will become a positive exemplar in the Global Campus ‘UWIverse.

“We look forward to the boon that will certainly result from the Campus’ collaboration with our fundamental shareholder, the Government of

St Vincent and the Grenadines; the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College; and other stakeholders in the private sector in this progressive and advancing nation-state. It is a promising and encouraging future.”

The UWI Global Campus Senior Management Team says it also welcomes Dr Noel-McBarnett to her new role and wishes her every success. She fills the position left vacant with the departure on retirement of Deborah Dalrymple in January, 2023. In the interim, Camille Lakhram served as Officer in Charge of the Campus Site.