Dominica-born Dr. Francis O. Severin has been appointed as Principal of the Open Campus effective August 1, 2022
Dr. Severin’s appointment was among several senior appointments and reappointments made at a meeting on April 29, 2022 of The UWI Council, the highest governing and decision-making authority of The UWI.
Dr. Severin succeeds Dr. Luz Longsworth who led the Campus for six years from May 2015 until her retirement on July 31 last year. On August 1, 2021, Dr. Severin was appointed Interim Principal of the Open Campus.
A national of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Dr. Severin has had a long and distinguished career with The UWI. Prior to his appointment as Interim Principal, he was the Deputy Principal of the Open Campus, a position he held from August 1, 2020.
Dr. Severin served as Director of the Open Campus Country Sites (OCCS) from October 2013 until August 2020 when he was appointed Deputy Principal. On January 1, 1999, he was appointed to his first full-time role in The UWI as Programme Officer in the Office of Administration and Special Initiatives (OASIs), headed by then Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Marlene Hamilton. Dr. Hamilton was the Mona Campus’ first female Deputy Principal and first woman to be appointed as a Pro Vice-Chancellor at The UWI. OASIs was a Centre Unit in the Vice Chancellery, headquartered then on the Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica.
In August 2005, Dr. Severin returned to Dominica to take up the post of Resident Tutor and Head, School of Continuing Studies. While in that post he participated in the historical transition from the former entities that comprised the Board for Non-Campus Countries and Distance Education (NCC’s & DE) to the Open Campus.
Dr. Severin graduated from The UWI Cave Hill Campus in 1991 with a Bachelor’s degree in History and Social Studies with Education. He went on to complete his postgraduate studies at The UWI Mona Campus in 1998 with the MSc in Sociology specializing in Social Policy and Administration, followed by a PhD in Education, in 2006.
Dr. Severin has served on numerous Campus and University boards and committees, including: University Council, University Appointments Committee, Board for Undergraduate Studies (BUS), Board for Graduate Studies and Research (BGSR), Finance and General Purposes Committee (F&GPC), Open Campus Academic Board, Senate Committee on Ordinances and Regulations (SCOR), Campus Evaluations & Promotions Committee (EPC), Campus Appointments Committee (CAC), University and Campus ICT Steering Committees, University Executive Management Team, and the University Senate and Library Evaluations and Promotions Committee.
Dr. Severin was the Chair of the Committee of Deans in academic year 2019-2020 and was the Open Campus’ Public Orator from 2010-2021. On his assumption to both offices of Deputy Principal and Campus Principal, he became the first male to hold these most senior roles at the Open Campus.
Dr. Severin, in responding to this development, stated, “My appointment as Principal of The UWI Open Campus—one of our University’s five campuses—is an extraordinary honour for me as an alumnus who is very proud of his alma mater, The University of the West Indies. When I joined The UWI in 1999 as a staff member, I could not have imagined or dreamed that this distinction would one day be bestowed on me. I am truly and immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve my University—and the Caribbean.”
“Of course, in the joy and exhilaration of the moment, having been Interim Principal for almost a full Academic Year now,” Dr. Severin continued, “I am intimately and deeply cognizant of what lies ahead of my executive management committee and myself; as a matter of fact, what lies ‘in front’ our staff at all levels. The next few months will therefore require discipline, sacrifice, focus and particularly single-mindedness in terms of accomplishing enhanced governance, operational efficiency, and financial sustainability.”
The UWI Open Campus Principal added, “Crucially, I take my mandate of preparing the Open Campus for going Global very seriously. The rest of The UWI, our staff, our students, our governments and all our stakeholders have high expectations of us. This is at the same time onerous and exciting. It will also be our team’s motivation in advancing the Global Campus agenda. I know I have the absolute and unequivocal support and vote of confidence of the University Council, the University’s Executive Management Team led by Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles, as well as my staff and the Guild of Students, in this unprecedented endeavour.”
The UWI Open Campus Executive Management Committee and the Guild of Students congratulate Dr Severin on his appointment as Campus Principal and wish him continued success in this role.
Well done Bro Severin. You have earned your academic positions by honest and diligent labour. Furthermore, you have given much to the dignity and democratic orientation of our beloved land. May you always remain a beacon of integrity in office and beneficial scholarship to our nation which is misled by avarice on the throne which is a rebuke to any honorable people. God bless always
Heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Severin! May you do exceptionaly well in your new post.
Dominicans are pushing above their weight all over the world. This is great.
Contemplate on this momentarily. Let’s assume that all these brilliant minds were resident in Dominica and given the opportunity to participate in the decision-making policies of government. Dominica would have been light years ahead of all her OECS counterparts. How proud that would have been for all Dominicans!
Regrettably though, there is a serious brain drain problem as tens of thousands have migrated to other countries all over the world. There isn’t much for them to do in their own country. With a new paradigm of governance, that is, the cancellation of Roosevelt and his cabinet of pathetic invertebrates, Dominica just may be able to regain its groove and become the bread basket of the Caribbean, probably the world.
Congratulations old boy the real Dr Severin on you continued advancements in the field of education and service to Caribbean people; I’m sure when the fake Dr Dr tried to denigrate you in Dominica’s Parliament over a simple duty free issue that must have been a motivating factor for you; so tell me now fake Dr Dr
“who is the a.s and who is the jack–s”.
Congratulations Dr Francis Severin.
Congratulations to you sir. You are one of the individuals with the greatest impact on my life. I just admired the way you carried yourself when you lectured us at CDCC, and I decided to emulate you from then and what a spectacular life I have had and is still enjoying. Thank you and congratulations again.
Congrats once again for your achievement.
Congratulations to Dr. Francis Severin, a great compatriot and fellow SMA student. I know he will continue to accomplish phenominally in his illustrious career and in his distinguished service to Dominica, the Caribbean and to humanity.
Congratulation Doc. Dominica that’s the real deal that’s not the delawrance award you all celebrating or the Honorary degree or DR DR they give skerrit .The famous Bill Crosby had many honorary and all was taken from him by the school’s that gave it to him. The Jose Marti medal they give skerrit in Cuba take your cell phone and Google, and see what it mean those labor rite that can not read make people that can read , make them read it to you all .I notice in Dominica some of you all can only listen to the garbage skerrit speaking and repeating it what a shame.
Now this is a meaningful appointment we can all be proud of unlike that embarrassing charade in Cuba last week. Well done Dr. Severin. You worked for your Doctorate and make a real contribution. Thank you and good luck.