Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) mourns the passing of Mr Robert Gregory, former lecturer and Associate Teaching Fellow.
Mr Gregory joined the then Mona School of Business (MSB) in 2010 as an Associate Teaching Fellow, a position he held up to the time of his passing. Over the course of his teaching career at MSBM, he taught the course “Transformational Leadership and Management” to hundreds of students in their pursuit of the MBA, EMBA and MBM degrees. He not only taught the course, but also epitomized its essence as a visionary and intuitive leader, shaping the path of countless leaders across Jamaica and the region.
Beyond the classroom and his lectures, he was known for his kindness, compassion and unwavering support for students. He always made time for those who needed guidance, offering encouragement and a listening ear. Several of his past students have attested to his selflessness, his generosity in sharing knowledge not just a lecturer but also as a mentor and guide.
In reflecting on his relationship with Mr Gregory, Dr Noel Cowell, Head of the Behavioural Sciences and General Management Unit in which Robert served, stated,” I remember Robert for his deep commitment to education. He was one of the first people I knew to catch the vision of the convergence between traditional academic education and practical training brought on by advancing technology. This notion of holistic human development was, I think, perfectly encapsulated in his early vision for the HEART Trust, now HEART/NSTA. He kept that passion over the 30 years I knew him and needed little encouragement to launch into discussion about national and regional education.
On a personal level, he was a fighter with tremendous optimism and zest for life. In his latter years, he became something of a missionary for ageing and men's health. One of his lasting gifts to me personally was his willingness to speak openly about his illness and to encourage all who would listen to focus on taking care of themselves.”
Another friend and colleague, Mrs. Vanda Levy-McMillan shared how accommodating Mr. Gregory was, “always willing to stand in for a colleague, because, we’re about the students.” “The last cohort he taught came at one of Robert’s lowest points and when he was offered help to grade exams he courageously said he would do it, as it was his responsibility, remaining ethical, even to the end”.
A dedicated public servant and educator, prior to joining MSBM, Robert served with distinction in senior executive positions, at both HEART/NTA and JAMPRO, providing strategic and decisive leadership of high-performance teams. At HEART/NTA, his tenure is characterized by ground-breaking work in shaping Jamaica’s technical and vocational landscape.
Dr David McBean, Executive Director MSBM, stated, “I knew Robert Gregory for several years, during my time in the private sector. Robert was passionate about nation building, our people, and Jamaica, land that he loved so much. Our paths would cross much closer when I came to the MSBM to find him here as an adjunct lecturer. He seemed so alive with the students, reasoning about transformational leadership. I fondly remember the times I would crash his classes to engage with him and the students. He was very open about his health challenges, and shared with us all the importance of health and well-being. He gave yeoman service with great distinction and will be sorely missed. Walk good my friend.”
Robert, our friend and colleague, will be deeply missed by the entire MSBM and the wider UWI Mona community.
We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues and assure them of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time even as we grieve for him ourselves, but we are also comforted by the great memories of a great life.