The Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of the West Indies, will be hosting a conference in honour of Professor Barrington Chevannes’ lifetime scholarly work, service and achievement. The conference is scheduled to be held at the Social Sciences Lecture Theatre on Thursday, January 19 to Saturday 21, 2006.

The conference aims to highlight the work of Professor Chevannes through rigorous intellectual engagement of several themes in social theory, ethnography, cultural studies and gender studies. It will be of interest to students and scholars alike, and will bring together over seventy five presentations from international and regional scholars on a range of themes, while proposing solutions to some of the pressing issues related to urban youth violence, governance, globalisation, gender identity, native religions and social cohesion in the Caribbean.

A graduate in Philosophy and Classics from Boston College, USA, Sociology from the University of the West Indies (UWI), and Anthropology from Columbia University, Professor Chevannes is former Head of the Department of Sociology, Social Work & Psychology and former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the UWI. He was born in Kingston, and has had a distinguished teaching career. He has taught in institutions far and wide including St Mary’s College and Campion College at the high school level, and City University of New York and Columbia University as well as the UWI at the tertiary level. Additionally he is an international research consultant answering demands throughout the West Indies, Europe, and the United States.

The conference theme “African-Caribbean Worldview and the Making of Caribbean Society” reflects the underlying thread that runs through the diverse research conducted by Chevannes in the disciplines of sociology and anthropology. Professor Chevannes has directed his skills at researching aspects of Caribbean culture and identity such as the family and sexual relationships, male gender issues, crime/violence, social integration, indigenous religious manifestations such as Revivalism and Rastafari, socio-political movements and Garveyism. Important among these is the National Commission on Ganja, which he chaired and out of which the National Report on Ganja was produced.

Of special interest are Professor Chevannes’ innovative initiatives such as being the founder of Fathers Incorporated (an organization dedicated to men, especially fathers), and his contribution to the Peace Management Initiative. Chevannes is also Chairman of the Institute of Jamaica, which awards national honours in the form of the Musgrave Medal.

Having pursued a wide range of academic, cultural and practical activities, this distinguished Jamaican has received many awards nationally and internationally. He is the recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence (UWI) for all-round excellent performance in research, teaching and public service and is also recognized for his original contribution to Jamaican folk and religious song heritage.
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