As Dr. Donald Peters bids farewell to his position as President of the Dominica State College (DSC), a new face takes centre stage to guide the institution forward during the interim period. Miss Trudy Christian, a seasoned professional with a rich history at the DSC, steps into the position of Interim President, bringing a fresh perspective and a commitment to catalysing progress.
At the forefront of Miss Christian’s agenda is a dedication to cultivating positive change throughout her stint. She envisions an era marked by innovation and advancement for the institution, which has thrived for over two decades. Her leadership promises to usher in a transformative period, fostering an environment conducive to growth and excellence at the Dominica State College.
Her Journey at the DSC
Ms Christian’s journey at the DSC is a testament to her unwavering dedication to education. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the Midwestern State University, She joined the DSC in 2009 as a biology lecturer, marking the beginning of an over decade-long association.
She temporarily ventured away in 2012 to pursue a master’s degree at UWI Cavehill but returned in 2013 as an adjunct lecturer while concurrently working at the Ministry of Health. Holding a Master’s in Public Health, the educator seamlessly integrated her healthcare proficiency with her passion for education.
A significant milestone in her trajectory occurred in January 2016 when she assumed a full-time role as a biology lecturer at the DSC. Furthering her ascent, in 2018, she earned her first promotion as the Director of Students Activities. In this capacity, she oversaw various non-academic student-related initiatives, including graduation orientation, all club activities, and the featured activity at Dominica State College for Carnival— the Mas Jamboree pageant.
In 2022, the Goodwill native, now residing in Castle Comfort, achieved new heights as the Dean of the Confucius Classroom, an institute at the DSC dedicated to Mandarin learning. The pinnacle of her career unfolded in November 2023 when the Board of Governors, with approval from the Ministry of Education, appointed her as the officer in charge of the DSC, stepping into the shoes of the retiring Dr. Peters.
New role
Upon receiving the news of her nomination for the interim presidency, the new officer in charge of the DSC admitted feeling honoured yet wary of the challenges that lay ahead.
“However, I like challenges and for my career, I’ve been a very dedicated employee at the Dominica State College,” she stated during her sit down with Dominica News Online (DNO).
“I have put my all into this institution. And so I felt that if somebody would be able to take on the challenge, and if somebody receives the confidence from their superiors that they were able to take on such a challenge, then it should be accepted and should be handled with as much grace and determination as possible.”
With the college accommodating approximately 1500 students and employing over 80 lecturing staff, in addition to ancillary support, she recognized that the news of her new role has elicited varied responses given the substantial size of the staff and student body.
However, overall she notes that the feedback has been positive.
“Having worked here for quite some time, I can attest to the positive relationship enjoyed with my peers. I’ve received substantial support, notably from the management team,” she said.
Looking to the Future
The DSC, as the exclusive public tertiary educational institution in Dominica, grapples with numerous challenges, ranging from infrastructural issues caused by Hurricane Maria to day-to-day operational complexities. However, Miss Christian enters this transitional phase intending to tackle some of these problems, placing a particular emphasis on infrastructural improvements.
“My goal in this period as officer in charge is to really seek to ameliorate some–it’s not possible to face all challenges in a short period–of our challenges, particularly infrastructural to see if we can get everybody on board,” she revealed.
The new head of the DCS added, “The government of Dominica, of course, is supportive and is responsible for the Dominica State College, but other stakeholders as well, do have some sort of stake or some sort of responsibility to our youth, to our future. And so I’m trying to get all views to contend and to get everybody on board to see how we can
improve some of our issues here at the State College and to improve overall student and staff satisfaction with the institution.”
In the face of these hindrances, she recognizes that the institution has maintained robust programs, particularly in human resources, producing 300 graduates annually who excel on a global scale.
“So we feel that we have been doing an admirable job here. But of course, there’s always room to improve and overcome,” she asserted.
As Miss Christian assumes the role of interim president, she envisions a future where the accomplishments and partnerships of the DSC are more prominently showcased. Therefore, among her other plans for this period, she aims to enhance the institution’s image.
She emphasised that while the DSC engages in numerous meaningful partnerships with universities worldwide and non-governmental organisations, the promotion of such collaborations must be conducted on a larger scale.
“That is something that I personally want to see in terms of our image and what the general public knows about the Dominica State College. I want to see that improve. And I want to see that increase,” she declared.
Furthermore, Miss Christian underscored her active engagement in debating, a facet well-recognized by the public. Renowned for leading various debate initiatives at DSC and coaching the Literary and Debating Society, which has celebrated several triumphs, most recently securing victory in the Windward Islands debating competition twice this
summer in St. Lucia. Consequently, she highlighted another goal of hers, which is the commitment to preserving and advancing the legacy of debating, as well as instilling robust public speaking skills among the student body at the Dominica State College.
Regarding future plans and the possibility of applying for the position to lead the DCS on a full-time basis, she shared, “I am relatively new in this role, which I often refer to as a “hot seat,” as the officer in charge of the Dominica State College, while I haven’t previously sought the position of president.”
However, she adds that as she navigates through this position and gains a better understanding of its dynamics, “I’ll see where the tides take me, and if in the future, I feel inclined to apply, I might consider doing so. However, at present, I am focused on familiarising myself with the job and its responsibilities. The decision to apply in the future is something I haven’t finalised, but it’s a possibility that I would consider.”
Paying homage to Dr. Peters, the longest-serving president of the DSC, Miss Christian notes that he leaves behind a legacy of “persistence and determination” as he maintained his role at the Dominica State College for an extended period.
“He witnessed the construction of the new Dominica State College, particularly our lower campus, graciously provided by the government of China. So, through his tenure, Dr. Peters witnessed the height of our infrastructural development, leading the institution through the challenges of Hurricane Maria. He played a crucial role in the
recovery, ensuring the college could reopen and continue offering classes to our students in the post-hurricane era,” she stated.
In conclusion, she acknowledged that while her present position at the DSC is temporary until a new president is identified, she is resolute in her determination to tackle the prominent difficulties faced by the institution, enhance its stability, and lay the groundwork for new leadership.
Beyond her role at the DSC, Miss Christian is a familiar voice on Q’s “Health Vibes” every Wednesday morning and contributes to Kairi FM through outside broadcasting.
Her personal health show, “The Spill”, focuses on public health, aligning with her advocacy for women’s health. She is also the founder of the Dominica Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Association and the Nature Isle Ladies PCOS Support Group, further solidifying her role as a women’s health advocate.
How you mean an ‘anybody’? She has studied, returned here and devoted herself to building this country with her skills and interests. Stupes tan. If someone is found later with better pedigree then so be it, in the mean time… Lady all the best!!!
Jesus H Christ. More and more we just putting anybody in our highest positions. As if we care more about pleasing our “friends” vs getting the job done properly the first time. I foresee madjee. Hopefully ill be wrong.