The University of Guyana has announced the appointment of its new Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith. He will be the University of Guyana’s 10th Vice Chancellor.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the University stated that Professor Griffith was selected after an exhaustive national, regional and international search; shortlisting of three candidates and evaluation based on a series of lectures, the candidates’ credentials and an interview by the Search Committee appointed by the UG Council.
Griffith, who has the honour of being the first person in the history of the University of Guyana to graduate with Distinction in Political Science in 1980, has an outstanding record as a scholar, academic leader and teacher.
Professor Griffith has held a number of leadership posts, including at Fort Valley State University in Georgia (2013-2015); Provost and Senior Vice President at York College in New York (2007-2013); Provost at Radford University in Virginia (2006-2007); Dean of the Honours College at Florida International University (2001-2006) and Budget Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida International University (1998-2001).
The new Vice Chancellor has been a visiting scholar at the Perry Centre for Hemispheric Defence Studies in Washington DC, the Royal Military College in Canada and the George Marshall European Centre for Security Studies in Germany.
UG statement added, “He was one of 45 experts commissioned by the OAS Secretary General to review hemispheric drug policies and practices and offer anti-drug scenarios. For his exceptional work in his field of expertise, he was awarded the 2015 William J Perry Award named in honour of former United States Defence Secretary, Dr William J Perry.”
In addition to his Bachelor of Social Science (Political Science, with Distinction) degree from the University of Guyana, he also secured a Diploma in Communications from UG. Moreover, he holds a Master of Arts degree from Long Island University in New York and a Master of Philosophy and PhD in Political Science from the City University of New York Graduate School.
Further, he completed the programme in Educational Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Chancellor Nigel Harris said “the University of Guyana welcomes Professor Ivelaw Griffith whose scholarly achievements and leadership experience are well suited to the central role he must play in transforming the institution”.
Impressive. Sounds like someone who can turn UG around. Hope he can create a system that will work for EVERY STUDENT and more importantly THE HELP AND CO-OPERATION AND BUDGET FROM THE GOVERNMENT. WITH a system like Guyana brain alone can’t fix a problem nor the system. Good luck.
Professor Ivelaw Griffith, Congratulations. We need your leadership at this time to make UG continue to shine and to overcome its many challenges. I wish you God’s continuous blessings and may he bless you to lead our highest educational institution to even higher heights. I once attended this wonderful institution.