With much anguish, The UWI Open Campus announces the passing of our dear erstwhile colleague and UWI Alumna, Ms. Allison M. C. Hull. She left this corporeal life, on Monday, May 20, 2019, having surrendered to cancer following a long and valiant battle. Thankfully, she was bolstered by her daughter, Dr. Nneka Hull-James, graduate in Veterinary Medicine from The UWI, and many other close family and friends, who walked the difficult journey by her side, during her ailment. She passed in Arizona, USA, where she sought medical treatment. She was from the nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
Ms. Hull served as Programme Officer, Open Campus Antigua and Barbuda, from November 17, 2008 until she resigned on January 1, 2018 in order to address her declining health. As Programme Officer, she diligently and meticulously attended to, inter alia, relevant student matters, including examinations and student support, and worked closely with the Head in leading Open Campus Antigua & Barbuda. Her steadfast efforts in ensuring the smooth operations of the Sir Luther Wynter Child Development Centre in close collaboration with the Head, Caribbean Child Development Centre, are noteworthy and acknowledged.
Her kind and conscientious interaction with her students, providing them with timely information, resolving their problems promptly and in general providing excellent customer service, stand out as a beacon in our Campus and specifically a model for the Programme Officer function. Among her accomplishments were the drafting of a disaster preparedness plan for the Site (2010-15) and the successful negotiation with local dance schools for the long-term rental of the Site’s theatrical facility.
Before coming to the Open Campus, Ms. Hull served as a Librarian (graduate) at the Antigua Public Library; as Company Secretary at the Antigua Commercial Bank; proof reader at the Sun Printing & Publishing; and Corporate Secretary and Office Administrator, PDV Caribe Antigua & Barbuda Ltd. The foregoing positions give a sense of the breadth of her knowledge, skills and training. Speaking of the latter, Ms. Hull was a proud graduate of three of The UWI’s four campuses. She graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree from Mona in 1979; the Post-Graduate Diploma in International Relations from St. Augustine in 1981; and the Master of Business Administration from Cave Hill in 1995. In light of the foregoing and having been employed at The Open Campus, it is quite plausible to argue that Ms. Hull was a consummate daughter of the Pelican Pride.
Saddened by her passing, Principal Dr. Luz Longsworth reflected that “Those of us who visited Antigua regularly will attest to her willingness to always assist in any way possible for The UWI to shine.” Her former high school teacher, Dr. Robertine Chaderton reminisces, "… Allison was a very dignified young woman who put her all into whatever project or assignment she was given. I am aware that she was very involved in Jaycees and made a significant contribution to the community in Antigua." Campus Librarian Mrs. Karen Lequay, remembers her long discussion with her on her first visit to Antigua back in 2009: “Of course the fact that her first degree was in librarianship was our common ground and why she chose to do something else was entirely my regret but she had my total understanding!” Indeed, Ms. Hull was proud of her knowledge and skills as a librarian, her BA major being in Library Studies.
Dr. Veronica Simon, Head Open Campus St. Lucia pondered “I am indeed sorrowful that Allison has lost the battle so courageously fought. My heart goes out to her daughter Nneka who was an absolute rock for her mom and who is now so bravely handling what must feel like devastation in her life.” The outpouring of sympathy has been momentous and the prevailing sensibilities of Open Campus colleagues are appropriately captured by Head, Open Campus Barbados, Ryan Byer thus, “She was very kind, generous and very gracious.”
The Pro Vice-Chancellor & Principal, the Open Campus Leadership Team and the entire Open Campus community condole with the daughter, family and friends of our departed colleague, Ms. Allison Hull. We are contented and comforted that her physical suffering has finished.
May her soul repose in Eternal Peace.
