The University of the Virgin Islands mourns the loss of its third president, Orville E. Kean, who served as a transformative leader of the institution from 1990 to 2002. Kean, who dedicated his life to advancing education and fostering development in the Virgin Islands, was 86.
Kean, appointed by the UVI board of trustees in 1990, was conferred the title of President Emeritus upon his retirement in recognition of his significant contributions to the university’s growth and resilience. His tenure was marked by notable achievements, including guiding UVI through the recovery from hurricanes Hugo in 1989 and Marilyn in 1995 and overseeing major capital projects that modernized the institution, according to the press release.
UVI President Safiya George expressed the University’s collective grief and highlighted Kean’s lasting impact. “I join the UVI family in mourning the passing of a great and inspirational leader, who dedicated his entire professional career to educating students and to leading this University with distinction and compassion,” George said. “On behalf of the UVI family, I offer deep condolences to Dr. Kean’s wife, Juliette, his daughter, Dr. Catherine Kean, his son, Michael Kean, and to the entire family. The university and the territory have lost a great intellectual, a man with a warm and generous heart, and a visionary leader.”
Oran C. Roebuck, vice chair of the UVI board of trustees, called Kean “one of the Virgin Islands’ precious treasures” and praised his lifelong commitment to student success. “Throughout his career, Dr. Kean worked on initiatives and programs that provided fruitful opportunities for our students to thrive at home and abroad,” Roebuck said.
Kean’s leadership included the establishment of the Research and Technology Park (RTPark) on St. Croix, which brought approximately 70 companies to the territory and bolstered the local economy. His vision also secured one of the largest donations in UVI’s history — a $5 million gift from entrepreneur Kiril Sokoloff, enabling the creation of the university’s Entrepreneurship Program, the press release stated.
Kean’s association with the university began in 1966 as a professor of mathematics at the then College of the Virgin Islands. Over the years, he held numerous roles, including dean of instruction, executive vice president, and director of the Eastern Caribbean Center, before becoming president. In 2021, UVI’s St. Thomas Campus was renamed the Dr. Orville E. Kean Campus in honor of his enduring contributions, the release stated.
The University will announce plans to commemorate Kean’s life and legacy in the coming days. Donations in his honor can be made to the Orville Kean Endowment at fundraise.givesmart.com or by calling 340-693-1040.
For more information or to reach Dr. Catherine Kean, please contact UVI Director for Public Relations Tamika Thomas Williams at tamika.thomaswilliams@uvi.edu or 340-693-1056.
