Kelian Stedman, valedictorian of UWI class shares inspirational words with fellow graduates

Isaiah Thomas Secondary School (ITSS) teacher, Mrs Kelian Stedman, believes that transformative leadership is the foundation of success.

She represented the 2024 graduating class of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus as its Valedictorian during a virtual ceremony which took place on the weekend.

Mrs. Stedman is a graduate of the BEd in Educational Leadership and Management(Special) with first-class honours.

“As we soar to new heights of leadership, let us continually analyse ourselves, recognizing that this examination is crucial for our holistic development,” she said. “Secondly, transformative leadership is the foundation of success.”

Stedman continued “Our UWI experience reinforces that transformative leadership fosters diverse communities capable of addressing temporary issues.”

She mentioned that during their studies they were constantly encouraged to value different viewpoints and create environments where all can thrive.

She told graduates that as they all boldly step into new responsibilities, “we empower those around us to reach the fullest potential.”

Furthermore, Stedman indicated that their strength lies in unity.

“The numerous group assignments indeed served a purpose,” she said.

According to her, these assignments taught them a vital lesson that, ‘no man is an island, and no leader stands alone.’

“It is through our shared efforts that we build a stronger nation,” Stedman noted.

She continued, “For us in the Caribbean our strength is rooted in our unity.”

She added, “Graduates we must collectively aspire to materialize regional integration to elevate this region to new heights.”

According to a recent statement published on wwwieyenews.com, during Stedman’s time at the Global Campus, she consistently earned a place on the student honour roll, and her unwavering commitment to education is deeply influenced by its transformative impact on her own life.

“Coming from humble beginnings, she recognized early on that education was the key to overcoming barriers. This understanding fuels her passion to instil in her students a firm belief in education’s power to change lives,” the statement said. “It also motivates her charitable work, as she dedicates herself to supporting the disadvantaged and marginalized within her school and the broader community.”

The statement continued, “As a teenager, she developed a strong sense of self-awareness, recognizing her creative and expressive talents as key personal strengths. Driven by a desire to use these skills to benefit others, she pursued an associate’s degree in Secondary Education—a decision she holds dear. She has since dedicated her career to education, gaining extensive experience across both primary and secondary/high school levels. Recently, she has taken on leadership roles, including serving as a Form Level Supervisor at her school. In this capacity, she provides guidance to both students and faculty, fostering an environment of academic excellence through her leadership.”

Committed to furthering her journey of empowerment, she plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Inclusive Education. Mrs. Stedman’s experiences at UWI have ignited a passion for law and justice within the education sector. Her goal is to promote diversity, equality, and equity in Caribbean schools, advocating for these values to become central to the education system.

The statement went on to reveal that in her personal life, she is sociable and family-oriented, finding fulfilment in meaningful interactions. Characterizing Stedman as passionate about motivational and inspirational writing, it states that she eagerly anticipates publishing her first inspirational work in 2025.

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Global Campus, Dr. Francis Severin asserts that, “Mrs Stedman’s account of her modest origins and her advancement to where she is now, precisely underscores the ethos and spirit, and indeed actions of the Global Campus and its predecessors of leaving no one behind.”  Dr Severin continued, “The Global Campus, formerly the Open Campus, has never shirked its responsibility and has never let down any country, in spite of its severe resource and financial constraints. Our Valedictorian of the 2024 Class is living testament to that fact.”

He congratulated Stedman on behalf of the Global Campus Senior Management Team.

A total of 50 Dominicans graduated from the UWI Global Campus on the weekend.