Fifty Newly Promoted UTech, Ja Academic Staff Recognized at Academic Reception
Dr. Kevin Brown (centre) President, University of Technology, Jamaica, Hon. Marsha Smith (5th from left) Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth, along with Prof. Colin Gyles, CD (left), Deputy President and Mr. Aldrick McNab (right) Deputy Chair of Council share a photo with newly appointed Professors at an Academic Promotions Reception hosted by the President on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Hotel, Papine Campus.
The newly appointed Professors (from left) are Prof. Damith Wickramanayake, Professor of Computer Science; Prof. Garfield Young, Professor of Geomatics Education; Prof. Marva Blankson, Professor of Civil Engineering; Prof. Gaunette Sinclair-Maragh, Professor of Tourism Development & Management; Prof. Sonia Richards-Malcolm, Professor of Clinical Laboratory Sciences; Prof. Earle Wilson, Professor of Mechanical Engineer and Prof. Haldane Johnson, Professor of Technical Education and Education Administration. Missing from the photo is Prof. Kamilah Hylton, Professor of Chemistry. The recent appointments now brings to total, 17 Professors at the University.
Fifty newly promoted academic staff at the University of Technology, Jamaica were formally recognized for their successful progression to the ranks of Professor, Associate Professor, and Senior Lectures at a special ceremony hosted by President, Dr. Kevin Brown at the SHTM Hotel, Papine Campus on Thursday, October 26, 2023.
President, University of Technology, Jamaica, Dr. Kevin Brown addresses the newly appointed cohort of academic staff at the reception.
In his recognition address, Dr. Kevin Brown, formally welcomed into the fold, 8 new Professors, 9 Associate Professors and 33 new Senior Lecturers which according to the President, is “the largest cohort of academics and members of faculties to be promoted” at once. Reiterating his day one commitment of “taking care of our people,” the President emphasized that “in taking care of our people, we should celebrate success, adding that “the idea of this event emerged from that commitment.”
Dr. Brown shared that the appointments were approved by the University Appointments and Promotions Committee (UAPC) at its meetings held on March 28, 2023, and on June 7, 2023. The appointments were later ratified at UAPC meetings on April 19 and June 15, 2023, bringing them into effect in March and June 2023. He further explained that the recommendations for the appointments “took into consideration the extensive body of teaching, research work and publication of all applicants as well as the applicants demonstrated leadership and service to the University and in the wider community.”
The President charged the new appointees to continue lending their expertise to the furtherance of the University’s mission by “breaking new frontiers in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)” in a manner that will advance new knowledge and positive growth in society.
Deputy Chair, UTech, Jamaica Council, Mr. Aldrick McNab congratulates members of the academic staff on their recent promotion.
Deputy Chair, UTech, Jamaica Council, Mr. Aldrick McNab in his encouraging address, congratulated the promoted academics and urged them to understand their value as educators. He challenged them to make their latest appointment serve as a “renewal” of who they are and the job that they must do as they are called to “transform lives.”
State Minister in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Honourable Marsha Smith in her address, applauded the educators in their elevated roles. She encouraged the UTech, Jamaica team to continue its excellent work in ensuring that the “lifelong learning process…always remains with you.” While accrediting the promotions of the 50 academics to the University’s proactive succession planning and growth strategy, the state minister noted that “When you think back earlier in your respective careers and you were being asked to host a training, take on a new task…all of those things were geared towards building your capacity.” She noted that through this capacity building, academic staff have been empowered to take advantage of the new opportunities that help to push the University forward. “The university cannot grow and the standards cannot be maintained if it is that Faculty itself does not improve,” she underscored.
Guest Speaker for the occasion, Reverend Dr. Stevenson Samuels, University Chaplain delivers a potent charge to the newly appointed academics.
Guest speaker, Reverend Dr. Stevenson Samuels, University Chaplain and Senior Pastor of Wlatham Park New Testament Church of God, in his well-known inimitable style, was as entertaining as he was instructive in his charge to the newly minted academics to “be keepers of the future” by “keeping it tall.”
Elaborating on his topic, Dr. Samuels used the acronym P.R.I.C.K to encourage the educators to take vested interest in Publication, Research, and the Intellectual formation of the profession by becoming Consultants who are committed to expanding the Knowledge tool repository of teaching and learning. He further encouraged the educators to maintain the “stature and dignity of academia” at UTech, Jamaica as “this is the University of choice for professionals who are entering industry.”
Dean, Faculty of The Built Environment, Prof. Garfield Young offers a response on behalf of the promoted cohort.
New Professor of Geomatics Education and Dean of the Faculty of The Built Environment, Professor Garfield Young in responding on behalf of the new group of promoted academics, thanked University President Dr. Kevin Brown for organizing the event, noting “it is really important that we show recognition for the hard work of individuals.” Professor Young noted that the he and his colleague have heeded the call to help build “a cadre of qualified individuals not just for what we do in the University, but for the relevance it has economically and for the kind of relevance it has for research and the kind of research that is impactful.”
Prof. Shermaine Barrett, Dean, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, raised a toast to newly appointed members of the academic staff.
Toasting the newly minted academics, Professor Shermaine Barrett, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies congratulated her fellow academics “who have bought into the vision of the University for us to contribute to research, to teaching, to service.” She encouraged the academics to “live life while it is happening” even as they step into their new ranks.
Following the formalities, guests mingled while enjoying a delightful fare prepared by Lillian’s Restaurant. The evening’s festivities were ably chaired by Mr. Maurice Colquhoun, Lecturer, College of Business and Management.
Promoted to the Rank of Professor are:
Kamilah Hylton, Professor of Chemistry; Damith Wickramanayake, Professor of Computer Science; Garfield Young, Professor of Geomatics Education; Marva Blankson, Professor of Civil Engineering; Garnette Sinclair-Maragh, Professor of Tourism Development & Management; Sonia Richards-Malcolm, Professor of Clinical Laboratory Sciences; Earle Wilson, Professor of Mechanical Engineer and Haldane Johnson, Professor of Technical Education and Education Administration.
Promoted to the Rank of Associate Professor are:
Ava Simpson, Dean Reid, Lisa Facey-Shaw, Eraldine Williams-Shakespeare, Junior Martin, Susan Muir, Warrick Lattibudaire, Henry Lewis, and Balvin Thorpe.
Promoted to the Rank of Senior Lecturer are:
Everton Lewis, Nellian Hutton Rose, Nikki Bramwell, Anthonette Patterson Bartley, Genevive Shaw, Gillian Mignott, Andrea Fender Longman, Modupeola Abayomi, Audrey Porter-DaCosta, Stephanie Mullings, Donn-Marie Newby, Petula Senior, Vivia Clarke, Meisha-Marie Paul, Kirk Wilson, Patricia Roberts-Brown, Sharon Hall, Shelly-Ann Irons, Damion Nesbeth, Terry-Ann Gaynor-Clarke, Courtney Palmer, Keniel Roberts, Elorene Hewitt, Jenevy Smith, Seymour Fisher, Milton Richardson, Rosalee Sawyers, Racquel Burton Edwards, Adonna Jardine-Corrine, Salvador Martinez, Abdul Antonie, Lisa Bromfield and Kathleen Lobban.
The full profiles of newly appointed UTech, Jamaica academic can be viewed at https://www.utech.edu.jm/publications/academicPromotions/
Photo Highlights
(L-R) Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Hon. Marsha Smith, Deputy Chair, Council, University of Technology, Jamaica, Mr. Aldrick McNab, Deputy President, Prof. Colin Gyles and President, Dr. Kevin Brown engage in conversation during the reception.
President, University of Technology, Jamaica, Dr. Kevin Brown (standing centre), Deputy Chair of Council, University of Technology, Jamaica, Mr Aldrick McNab (standing right) and Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Hon. Marsha Smith (seated centre) share a photo moment with members of the academic staff recently appointed to the rank of Associate Professor.
President, University of Technology, Jamaica, Dr. Kevin Brown (seated 3rd left), Prof. Colin Gyles (seated 2nd left), Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Hon. Marsha Smith (seated centre) and Deputy Chair of Council, University of Technology, Jamaica Mr. Aldrick McNab (seated right) join newly appointed Senior Lecturers for a group photo at the reception.
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