Internationally acclaimed cultural icon, Professor the Hon. Rex Nettleford has been awarded the prestigious Chancellor’s Medal of The University of the West Indies in recognition of his “signal, substantial and likely lasting contribution to the welfare and development of The University of the West Indies as a regional institution”.

The special award of distinction was made to Professor Nettleford by UWI Chancellor, Sir George Alleyne, at a special awards ceremony held at the UWI, St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago, on Friday, April 24, 2009.  The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries headed by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Professor Max Richards, as well as members of the University community.

The Chancellor’s Medal is a special award of distinction made by the Chancellor of The University of the West Indies to a person who has made a signal, substantial and likely lasting contribution to the welfare and development of The University of the West Indies as a regional institution. It is also awarded to persons who have enabled the University to access resources for the fulfilment of its mission: delivering to the region quality higher education through teaching, outreach and research.

Professor Nettleford, who is renowned as one of the region’s leaders in the performing arts and as a cultural historian was honoured for his tremendous contribution to cultural development in the region. The Caribbean scholar, trade union educator, social and cultural historian and political analyst is the founder, artistic director and principal choreographer of the acclaimed National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica. A former Rhodes Scholar, he is Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the UWI, and was responsible for introducing the Cultural Studies Initiative at the Mona Campus, a programme which has attracted several postgraduate scholars since its inception in 1996. He is recipient of numerous awards including the CARICOM’s highest award, the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC).

He is the fourth recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal. Other awardees have been Sir Philip Sherlock, Sir Alister McIntyre and the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson.