80.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeCommunitySchoolsUVI Welcomes 50 Doctoral Candidates Into the First Ph.D. Cohort

UVI Welcomes 50 Doctoral Candidates Into the First Ph.D. Cohort

Students enrolled in the UVI inaugural Ph.D. cohort pose for a group photo with their professors and administrators on the UVI St. Thomas Campus.The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) welcomed the inaugural cohort for its Ph.D. in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change. The inaugural group, composed of 50 students from the V.I., the Caribbean and the United States, met on Sunday, Aug. 22, for a welcome reception at the UVI President’s Guest House. Participants will be able to complete many of the program requirements online, but residency dates are required each semester. The Ph.D. cohort will meet this week, from Aug. 22 to Aug. 26, as they officially begin their coursework.
“In the Virgin Islands, we need to create a place where we are nurturing creative leaders,” said UVI President David Hall. “When we think about the future, if we can be a resource for the development of powerful creative leaders, then many of the issues that we face could be addressed.”
Dr. Hall said that he wanted this new Ph.D. to be multidisciplinary, which would allow the program to cut across the university and allow everyone to participate.
Dr. James Maddirala, UVI associate provost for graduate, global and academic affairs, welcomed doctoral candidates to the University of the Virgin Islands, Buffalo State University and Fielding Graduate University, the three schools have partnered to make this Ph.D. program a reality. “This Ph.D. program is unique,” Maddirala said. “There is nowhere in the world where three institutions come together to create a noteworthy educational program at this level.”
Shauna Matthew, UVI Ph. D. candidate, introduces herself to fellow students in the inaugural cohort of the Ph.D. program.“I cannot tell you how gratified I am to see this dream of creative leadership come to fruition at this level,” said Dr. Gerard Puccio, Buffalo State University department chair and professor of the International Center for Studies. “I think that the world would be a better place – a world that is fraught with judgment, criticism and fear would be a better place, if we had more creative leaders. That is what you 50 are about. Because imagination conquers fear.”
UVI’s Ph.D. candidates include education, business and private sector leaders who are in different stages of their careers. Some participants have been waiting for a Ph.D. in creative leadership to be developed, while others have been waiting to advance their education but have not found a program that fits their professional goals. Some were waiting to be able to do this at an historically black college or university.
“This seemed like the perfect step in expanding what the field of curatorial practice is,” said Rhea Beckett, who recently completed a Master of Fine Arts in Curatorial Practice at Maryland Institute College of Art. Beckett is entering the program with her mother, Monica Rae, who comes from a long line of educators. Rae is the chief education officer for a publishing company. “I am really excited to be here with this cohort,” said Rae. “I look forward to learning and contributing 200 percent as we matriculate through.”
UVI alumna Patricia Williams traveled from St. Maarten to participate in the program’s launch. Williams also earned her bachelor and masters degrees from UVI. Currently, she works as a policy officer who is involved with innovation and change in the education system on St. Maarten. She said she is really looking forward to earning her Ph.D. in innovation and change at UVI. “We will be the first 50,” said Williams to her classmates. “We will do it together.”
The Ph.D. Program in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change is designed to offer extensive leadership knowledge toward developing innovative practices in leading institutions and other complex human organizations. Learners are encouraged to study organizations from a trans-disciplinary perspective that would transform communities in local and global venues.
UVI’s Ph.D. program offers three specialized tracks:
· Creativity and Leadership for Change
· Organizational Development and Leadership
· Educational/Academic Leadership for Change
Program participants in the Creativity and Leadership for Change track will receive a Ph.D. from UVI and a graduate certificate from Buffalo State University. Participants in the Organizational Development and Leadership Track will receive a Ph.D. from UVI and a graduate certificate from Fielding Graduate University. Students in the Educational/Academic Leadership for Change track will receive a Ph.D. from UVI.
Maddirala said he would like to see all 50 candidates graduate together. The university is expected to be able to offer this new Ph.D. program globally — including in India and China. This Ph.D. program is accredited by the Middle State Commission on Higher Education.
 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.