President Hall Inducted into Rotary Club II of St. Thomas

Pictured from left to right are Dr. Hall, Assistant District Governor and Rotary Club II Past President Cheryl George-Chance, Rotarian and fourth UVI President Dr. LaVerne E. Ragster and Rotary Club II President Eric Baynes.

The fifth President of the University of the Virgin Islands Dr. David Hall was inducted Wednesday as an honorary member of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas II at the club’s weekly meeting at Marriott Frenchman’s Reef.

In his remarks, Dr. Hall expressed his belief in the values of truth, fairness and integrity, which he said are also the cornerstones of what the University strives to instill in its students.

“When I think about UVI and the values of this organization I find that there is a great synergy and connection,” he said. “I will do my best to uphold the honor that you have bestowed upon me.”

Dr. Hall thanked the Rotarians for their past support and asked them to lend their leadership, their ideas and their resources to the University in the future.

Author, Motivational Speaker Engages New UVI Students

Noted author and motivational speaker L. Trenton Marsh provided orientation keynote addresses on the St. Croix campus, on Aug. 16, and on St. Thomas, shown here on Aug. 17, on St. Thomas. At left, Marsh enlists the assistance of Shauntell Mactavious, an incoming freshman from Tortola, BVI.

UVI Fall Semester classes begin on Monday, Aug. 23, 2010.

UVI's Fall Semester Begins Monday, Aug. 23, 2010

St. Clair Hodge, president of the St. Thomas campus chapter of the Brothers With A Cause (BWC) organization, above center, pins a member of UVI’s incoming class of 2014 during orientation activities on Aug. 17, at the Sports and Fitness Center. Hodge was joined by other BWC members, Miss UVI Joneisa Smith, above at right, and UVI Director of Alumni Affairs Linda I. Smith, not shown, in conducting the official “pinning” of the University’s newest students.

New student on UVI’s St. Croix campus were also welcomed on Aug. 16, by officers from the St. Croix chapter of Brothers With A Cause. The BWC recruiting effort on St. Croix continued on Thursday, Aug. 19, when the group joined other student clubs and organizations at an orientation mini fair. Shown at the fair are, from left, Public Relations Officer Richard Motta, President Michael Campbell and Vice President Joel Dorsett.

UVI Professor Completes HBCU-UP Leadership Development Institute

UVI Psychology Professor Dr. Kimarie Engerman, left, is presented with a certificate of completion by Dr. Marilyn Suiter of the Education and Human Resources Directorate of the National Science Foundation. At right, Dr. Engerman is shown with other Leadership Development Institute participants. (Click on small photo to enlarge.)

Dr. Kimarie Engerman, an assistant professor of psychology at UVI, recently completed the 2009-2010 Leadership Development Institute program offered by the Quality Education for Minorities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Undergraduate Program. The institute's goal is to enhance the leadership and research capabilities of junior faculty members teaching STEM - science, technology, engineering and mathematics - courses at HBCUs. It also aims to build a community of emerging leaders in STEM areas at these institutions. A cohort of 30 assistant professors was selected for the institute. They participated in four sessions over a one-year period, including: a five-day summer session in 2009; a two-day winter session in 2010; a 10-week summer research appointment at a National Science Foundation-supported research center; and a concluding five-day summer session in 2010. Dr. Engerman’s summer appointment was at the Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center at Temple University. The focus of her research was on developing a factor structure for epistemological beliefs. For more information contact Dr. Engerman at (340) 693-1227 or send email to kengerm@uvi.edu.

UVI Students Attend Substance Abuse, HIV/AIDS Prevention Training in Florida

Above, Derron Ambrose, left, Naji Shadeed and Dr. Doris C. Battiste. Below, Adrienne Anthony, left, and Alyssa Ryan.

Four UVI student peer educators and Dr. Doris C. Battiste, associate campus administrator for Student Affairs on the St. Thomas campus, joined students and representatives from other minority institutions at a Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS Prevention Training session in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., held July 7 to 9. The students were Adrienne Anthony, a graduate student from the St. Croix campus, and Derron Ambrose, Naji Shadeed and Alyssa Ryan from the St. Thomas campus. During two and one-half days of training, the students studied evidence-based intervention models, prevention strategies that work, the role of peer leaders, and how to network with students from other HBCUs, institutions that serve Hispanics, and tribal colleges.

In addition, UVI’s students displayed a sample of the “Promoting Prevention in Paradise” campaign which they completed on UVI’s campuses during the past year. Dr. Battiste said the presentation was well received by other students and college representatives. She also said the institute served as a source for lots of new ideas that the students are eager to try at home. All the UVI student participants are Certified Student Peer Educators and have been in the program for a year or more.

This summer marks the fifth year that UVI student peer educators have participated in the Minority Education Institution Initiative Summer Training Institute. The training is supported by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) and McFarland and Associates. For more information, contact Dr. Battiste’s office at (340) 693-1120.