Dr. Francis Severin has been appointed to act in the top position at the Open Campus of The University of the West Indies (The UWI).
“The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Francis Severin as Interim Principal of its Open Campus effective August 1, 2021. The appointment was approved at the Annual Business Meeting of University Council held on Friday April 30, 2021 via Zoom,” the University said in a release issued last week.
The current Principal, Dr Luz Longsworth will retire on July 31 this year after serving for six years.
Dr Severin, a national of Dominica, has had a long and distinguished career with The UWI. He is currently the Deputy Principal of the Open Campus, a position he has held from August 1, 2020.
Prior to being the Deputy Principal, he served as Director of Open Campus Country Sites (OCCS) from October, 2013, having acted for long intervals in that post prior to that date.
He served The UWI part-time as local Tutor in The UWI Distance Education (UWIDEC) Programme, School of Continuing Studies (SCS), in Dominica from 1994 to 1998, facilitating the courses: Introduction to Caribbean History for Law and Social Sciences and Introduction to Sociology of the Caribbean.
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 Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Marlene Hamilton, who was the Mona Campus’s first female Deputy Principal and first woman ever to be appointed as PVC 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 has been the Open Campus’ Public Orator since 2010.
“It is a distinct honour for me to have been invited to assume this noble task of leading the vital Open Campus for the next year, particularly as we prepare to usher in the emerging UWI Global Campus – and a number of transformational and cutting-edge initiatives,” Dr Severin said in response to his appointment.
“I am wholly conscious that the task before me as leader is both a challenging and exciting one. My assurance resides in the fact that I have an excellent executive team as well as a family of employees who are passionate about the work we do to ensure increased access and empowerment through the quality education of the hitherto disenfranchised and marginalized, Eastern Caribbean people and those far from physical Campuses in particular,” he added.
“In all of this, I wish to further enable and champion the ONE UWI philosophy. I am eternally grateful to our outgoing Principal for setting a strong foundation for the Campus’s future,” Dr Severin concluded.
My Beloved Fellow Dominicans,
Thank you so much for your heartfelt, generous and kind words of commendation and support. They truly warm my heart. I always keep you – and your hopes and aspirations – in mind as I navigate through and traverse my professional life. I have received many words of appreciation and support which buoy me up. It is, quite frankly, a profoundly satisfying feeling when your own country women and men feel proud of you because you make them proud in your own individual way. I treasure that quid pro quo or exchange.
Even if it were not an exchange per se, I am lucky – and eternally indebted to the inescapable reality by birth, that I was mothered and fathered by Jean nee White and Webster O. Severin who taught me all the right values that have become second nature to me and have assured any success I have had.
I am also lucky to have a strong and independent-minded wife, Gina, and daughter, Nakisa, who keep me grounded and focused, always.
God Bless…
Congratulations “son of Webster” !! You have done well. How much he & your mother Jean would be proud of you!
Dr.Serevin is an examplary educator.
Congratulations on such an esteme position.I do wush you well.
Congratulations Sir, well deserved!
Another distinguished Dominican! Congratulations Sir!
Well deserved son of the soil. Even if you went to the wrong high school (SMA- Stupidest Men Alive
) your managed to carry yourself like a proud DGS man. That’s why I am soooo proud of you sir 
. Stay blessed my brother for your journey has just began.
Ora et labora homeboy. It’s instilled in most of us Academy men. Smartest Men Alive (SMA)if you didn’t know already what it stands for.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Congratulations sir. You are one of the greatest influences on my life. To this day, I remember the lectures you gave to us at CDCC and the stories you told to build our character. I must thank you for all I have become today. Thank you and congratulations again.
CONGRATULATIONS Dr. Severin!!!
One of Dominica’s contemporary luminaries: an exemplar of academic rectitude and excellence and an uncompromising exponent of professionalism and forthrightness, with a focused zeal to produce a cadre of equipped citizens across the Caribbean region.
Congratulations again. Well deserved.
I am remembering SMA and Clifton Dupigny Community College.
That local UWI campus itself have story wi. Dominicans just like crabs in a barrel. Where Kimone Joseph? Not she that was the head of the cmapus?
ADMIN: Dr. Kimone Joseph is the head of the UWI open campus in Dominica. Dr Severin can be considered the regional head.
Congratulations Dr.Severin. You have really earned this and we respect your achievements. You are doing our country proud.
A real Ph.D. no less. Thank you.
Congratulations Dr. Severin, I am confident you will continue to do a great job.
Congratulations sir..You are a REAL doctor. You did not buy anything in India.
Congratulations Dr Severin. The appointment is well deserved.