Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie Appointed President, UTech, Ja.
Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie has been appointed fourth President of the University of Technology, Jamaica. Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor Richard Powell in making the announcement says that he is “happy Ambassador Vascianne has agreed to join the UTech, Jamaica family and that the University Council is confident that he will make an invaluable contribution to the growth and development of the University. The leadership of this distinguished Jamaican will enhance the ability of UTech, Jamaica to fulfil its role as Jamaica’s national university in supporting the achievements of the country’s development goals.”
The appointment was made in accordance with the provisions of Statute IV and will be for a period of three years commencing January 2, 2017.
As President, Ambassador Vasciannie will carry out the functions of chief academic and administrative officer of the University, reporting directly to the Council, through its Chairman, the Pro-Chancellor. He will be principally responsible for implementing the Council’s policies, and will exercise such executive powers as necessary for the proper administration and operation of the University.
A Rhodes Scholar, Ambassador Vasciannie has been a Professor of International Law for more than 12 years. He holds the Doctor of Philosophy degree in International Law from the University of Oxford, the Master of Law degree in International Law from the University of Cambridge (First Class Honours with distinction, Top of Class); the Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford (First Class Honours, Top of Class at Balliol College, Oxford); and the Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of the West Indies (First Class Honours, with the then best results in the history of the Faculty of Social Sciences).
He has been a member of the Jamaican Bar for twenty years, and worked at the United Nations and at the Wall Street Law firm of Sullivan and Cromwell as a member of the New York Bar in the 1990s. His illustrious career in academia has included senior appointments at the University of the West Indies, and he served as Principal of the Norman Manley Law School from 2008 to 2012. Within the University of the West Indies, Professor Vasciannie has won various awards for outstanding teaching and research.
Ambassador Vasciannie has served with great distinction in both the private and public sectors. He has been a Deputy Solicitor General for Jamaica, has been a member of the Board of Scotiabank Jamaica, and has chaired the Boards of Scotia Investment Jamaica and of his alma mater, Kingston College.
Between 2012 and 2015, he served as Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States of America and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS). In the latter capacity, he was elected Chairman of the Permanent Council of the OAS for the period August to October 2012, and as Chairman of the OAS Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs for the year 2014 to 2015.
Ambassador Vasciannie’s standing in International Law was also recognized when he was elected by the United Nations to serve on the UN International Law Commission for the five-year period from 2007. Throughout this period, which saw his election to serve as General Rapporteur of the Commission in 2010, he played an active role in the codification and progressive development of International Law.
He has published several books and more than 40 articles in international and regional journals of scholarly research, and has served as a consultant to various international organizations on questions of law and public policy.
For his services to Jamaican Education, Law and International Relations, Ambassador Vasciannie received the national award of Order of Distinction (Commander Class) in 2015.
Ambassador is married to Lisa and they have two sons.
End.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm