One year after the position of Chancellor became vacant at the University of Guyana (UG), the council has selected Professor Edward Greene, former UN Special Envoy and CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General, as the new Chancellor.
Professor Greene who is expected to be installed in a simple ceremony during this year’s Convocation exercise on November 16, 2019 replaces Chancellor Emeritus Nigel Harris, a UG release today said.
Harris was in 2016 appointed as the ninth Chancellor of the University.
Greene, who will be the tenth chancellor was born in Guyana and attended Queen’s College.
He is currently Chief Executive Officer of a Think Tank, Global Frontier Development and Advisory Services (GOFAD). The career diplomat has held various positions within the multinational community including that of Senior Adviser, Public Policy, Health and Human Development, PAHO/WHO (1995-1999), Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, at the Caribbean Community Secretariat (2000-2010) and UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean 2012-2017.
He has also previously held various academic positions at the University of the West Indies (UWI) including Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Development and Alumni Relations; University Director, Institute of Social and Economic Relations (ISER); Interim Director, Consortium Graduate School for the Social Sciences in the Caribbean (1984-1986).
He was first appointed to the rank of Professor in 1988 and has since held posts such as inaugural Professorial Fellow, ISER (1994).
He has authored 10 books and over 60 articles in refereed journals and is Professor Emeritus of UWI. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics (University of London), MSc Political Economy (Mc Master University), and Ph.D. (University of British Columbia) and held visiting Professorships at UCLA, University of Havana, and University of British Columbia.
He is also credited with leadership roles in the development of major regional initiatives and has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Arrow of Achievement from Guyana and the second highest honour, the Yellow Star from Suriname.
He also received the prestigious PAHO/WHO Award for Administration in Public Health (2011); the Sir Phillip Sherlock Award from the University of the West Indies and University of Technology, Jamaica for outstanding contribution to Health and Development (2012); the Institute of Caribbean Studies, Caribbean American Heritage Award for Public Service (2016); and the Honorary Doctor of Laws from UWI for outstanding academic and public service (2017).
Also announced is the University’s first “Envoy Extraordinaire”, British Parliamentarian David Lammy.
Lammy who has served in the British parliament since 2000 was born to Guyanese parents and has continuously maintained active interest in Guyana.
A release from the University said that he studied law at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. He earned an LL.M from Harvard Law School and has served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills and later as Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.