The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is pleased to announce its six newest Professors, that include a Legal Scholar, Political Scientist, Educational Psychologist, Natural Products Researcher, Microbiologist and Tourism Specialist.
The six were promoted to the regional university’s highest academic rank with effect from October 2021, following rigorous evaluation of the quality and quantity of their research, publications and other professional activities by internal and external assessors. The academics all received outstanding reviews in their respective areas of specialty; in addition to their academic distinctions, they emulate The UWI’s mission: “to advance learning, create knowledge and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean and the wider world.” They are:
- Professor Shazeeda Ali, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Mona Campus;
- Professor Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Cave Hill Campus;
- Professor Loraine Cook, Professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the Mona Campus;
- Professor Ruby L. Lindo, Head of the Biochemistry Section the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the Mona Campus;
- Professor Adesh Ramsubhag, Professor in the Faculty of Life Sciences at the St Augustine Campus; and
- Professor Andrew Spencer, Deputy Executive Director at the Mona School of Business and Management.
More about the new professors
Professor Andrew Spencer
Professor Andrew Spencer began his academic career at the Department of Management Studies, now the Mona School of Business and Management at The UWI Mona Campus in 2008, where he now serves as the School’s Deputy Executive Director.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Tourism Management and a Master of Science Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management from The UWI Mona Campus and a PhD degree in Tourism Strategy from Bournemouth University, in the United Kingdom.
Professor Spencer has focused his scholarly output on Tourism Development and Management and is the first to be promoted to the rank of full professor in the substantive field of tourism at The UWI.
He has produced a volume of original work that fills a critical research gap in tourism and hospitality in the Caribbean and an underrepresented area in scholarly publications and international literature. He has published over fifty scholarly works, including three books for which he is the primary author. Professor Spencer has reviewed a wide range of regional and international publications, including the Tourism Management Journal, and currently serves on the editorial board of Tourism Review (ranked B on the ABDC journal ranking) the Journal of Business Research, and the Journal of Tourism Resilience.
One external assessor described his scholarship saying “It is clear…that Dr Spencer has made a unique contribution to the development of the wider tourism academic community and has acquired strong leadership and management skills which are all vital for a Professorial role...One of the most noteworthy features of the candidate’s work…is the focus on the Caribbean area with many of his research outputs related to tourism in Jamaica, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean Islands... His work also uses many innovative research methods.”
In addition to lecturing, Professor Spencer has supervised PhD and MSc theses in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
Before his current role at the Mona School of Business and Management, he spent four years as Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo); served as Chairman of the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation Council; Chairman of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean Tourism and Hospitality Management Department Academic Advisory Board; Director of eGov Jamaica Limited; Managing Director of the Montego Bay Convention Centre Board; Director of Linkages Council, Jamaica; and Director of the Cruise Council of Jamaica. He is currently Chairman of the Governance Committee of the University Council of Jamaica and the Development Committee of the National Education Trust.
Article & Photo from: The University of the West Indies, Mona