The UWI Open Campus Appoints New Head of Site in Belize
Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal. Wednesday, June 3, 2020 – The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Sharmayne Saunders as Head of Site, Open Campus Belize. Her appointment was approved by the University Council at its meeting on April 30, 2020, with indefinite tenure effective May 1, 2020.
Dr. Saunders was preceded by Mrs. Jane Bennett, who served from 2007–2019. The University community thanks Mrs. Bennett for her stellar leadership during the years and wishes her well as she pursues new professional experiences.
Dr Sharmayne Saunders has built a 25-year career in business, consultancy and academia. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems and Business Management (magna cum laude) and a Master of Science degree in Telecommunication Systems Management and e-Marketing (summa cum laude); both from Murray State University. She also earned a Doctoral degree in Organization & Management and Information Technology Management from Capella University in 2006.
Following several leadership roles in the private sector, Dr Saunders joined The UWI Open Campus in 2008 as Programme Officer and was also a Course Facilitator/Lecturer for undergraduate, postgraduate and continued professional education courses. She continues to provide postgraduate research teaching and supervision to many students. During her tenure as Programme Officer at the Belize Site, she structured new continued professional development courses in areas like time management, customer service, organizational behaviour and management, interpersonal skills and leadership; while engaging in extra departmental service as chair and co-chair of a wide range of committees within and external to The UWI community.
Dr Saunders acted in the capacity of Head for almost 14 months, prior to assuming the official appointment, which succeeds her 11 years of service as Programme Officer. She has provided leadership on multiple strategic objectives including leading research at the Belize Site; and has managed numerous local and regional donor funded projects serviced by agencies such as UNICEF, OAS, UNDP and IDB, to name a few. She has been able to forge strong collaborative links and working relationships with such agencies, as well as with public and private sectors, and civil society organisations.
Dr Saunders holds an impressive record of public service, scholarly work and research. Her national service was recognized in 2019 with an award for commitment and service to national development and the development of the education sector in Belize. Her many citations and recognition of service in the education arena include that of Alumni of the Year from her alma mater, Murray State University.
A member of various regional, and international associations, Dr Saunders has served on several boards of national and private sector entities, commissions, councils, committees, as well as on regional and international editorial boards. Her academic work includes paper publication and delivery of several public presentations and workshops. She has also been a guest editor for the Caribbean Quarterly journal and continues to serve as a member editor for the Journal of Administrative Sciences and Policy Studies.
The UWI Open Campus congratulates Dr Saunders and wishes her success as she continues to serve the people of Belize on behalf of The UWI.
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Dr Sharmayne Saunders, Head, The UWI Open Campus Belize
About The UWI
For over 70 years The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has provided service and leadership to the Caribbean region and wider world. The UWI has evolved from a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948 to an internationally respected, regional university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and an Open Campus. As part of its robust globalization agenda, The UWI has established partnering centres with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, and Africa including the State University of New York (SUNY)-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development; the Canada-Caribbean Studies Institute with Brock University; the Strategic Alliance for Hemispheric Development with Universidad de los Andes (UNIANDES); the UWI-China Institute of Information Technology, the University of Lagos (UNILAG)-UWI Institute of African and Diaspora Studies and the Institute for Global African Affairs with the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences and Sport.
As the region’s premier research academy, The UWI’s foremost objective is driving the growth and development of the regional economy. The world’s most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education, has ranked The UWI among the top 600 universities in the world for 2019, and the 40 best universities in Latin America and the Caribbean for 2018 and 2019.The UWI has been the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists. For more, visit www.uwi.edu.
(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)
