Allegra Christopher Pursues Multiple Passions with an Interdisciplinary Studies Degree

Allegra Christopher

Allegra Christopher is not the kind of student who fits neatly in a box. So, when it came time for the photographer, photojournalist, musician, dancer, visual artist and culture bearer to select a major, there wasn’t a clear choice at first. That’s when UVI Provost, Dr. Camille McKayle, suggested a creative solution – a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. Students work closely with their advisors to create a customized degree that allows them to pursue multiple interests. It turned out to be the right fit for Allegra. In May 2024, she became one of the first students to graduate from UVI with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. 

“I have passion for everything I touch,” said Allegra, who graduates cum laude and has been on the dean’s list throughout her academic career at UVI. “The interdisciplinary degree was perfect for me.” 

A graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, Allegra first attended UVI in 1990 as a humanities student. She put her university studies on hold to pursue other goals including starting a family and a photography business. She also moved to Virginia where she worked as a music teacher and a volunteer Girl Scouts field administrator for twenty years. A lifelong learner, Allegra returned to UVI in 2019 to pursue a formal degree, in part to motivate her son, an aspiring writer.  

At Allegra’s Senior Student Musical Recital, her multi-talents were on display as she sang classical and African-diaspora songs, and showcased ancestral Bamboula dance, drumming and song. As part of her service-learning master hours requirement for graduation, Allegra created a Bamboula cultural club at UVI which took music education students into local schools to teach multicultural music education. In her senior year, Allegra also interned with the UVI Office of Public Relations, covering student life activities and creating multimedia content for social media. 

After graduation, Allegra plans to pursue a career in multimedia public relations and travel to other HBCUs and universities throughout the Caribbean as a presenter of Afro-Caribbean culture. She carries the culture bearer torch proudly, a role passed on to her by her mother, Mary Ann Golden Christopher. Eventually, she intends to pursue a master’s degree in Ethnomusicology and interdisciplinary studies in the Fine Arts. 

Allegra’s experience at UVI wasn’t a straight line, but she is grateful for the opportunity to create her own path, one that incorporated her many passions, allowing her to exercise her own individuality and (literally) dance to the beat of her own drum. 

 

 

 

UVI Graduate Paul Smith Reaches New Heights

As an accomplished young pilot employed by Sea Flight providing daily flight service between St. Thomas and St. Croix, Paul Smith is already working in the field of his dreams. Growing up around aviation – his father and uncle were both pilots – Paul has been flying planes for 11 years. He became licensed at age 17 and has been a commercial pilot since he was 19.


Even with his early accomplishments, Paul decided to pursue a college degree at UVI in 2019 with the hopes of gaining employment with a major airline after graduation. When the airlines dropped the four-year degree requirement in 2022, Paul chose to stay the course. In May 2024, he graduated with a degree in Business Information Services and Technology.


Paul, who plans to apply for a job as a pilot with a major airline, said his four-year degree and work experience will give him an advantage. “I also learned a lot about better time management at UVI,” said Paul, a skill he can bring to the job.

Born in St. Thomas, Paul was raised in Anguilla and has an appreciation for both islands. After graduating from high school in Anguilla, he chose UVI because several of his family members are alumni. In high school, he developed an interest in computers and information technology and decided to pursue that in college. At UVI, he enjoyed the welcoming Caribbean culture and also recalls his advisor and professor Renel Smith who motivated him when he didn’t do well in a class. “He told me, ‘I know you can do better’ and I appreciated that,” said Paul.

Highlights from his aviation career so far include flying UVI faculty and staff between the islands and VI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. on numerous occasions. “He told me I’m a very good pilot,” said Paul about the Governor. Paul also works at Standard Aviation as a fueler and handler of private aircraft and is an entrepreneur making charter arrangements on the side.

 “My business courses at UVI have helped me with the business aspect of things.”

In his free time, Paul enjoys boats and is working on getting his boat captain’s license. He also enjoys movies and spending time with family. Paul is thankful for all of the opportunities afforded to him and hopes to give back to the Virgin Islands and Anguillian communities in the field of aviation.

William Steger, Jr.: Thriving on the Courts and Off

William Steger, Jr.

At the University of the Virgin Islands, William Steger, Jr., Guard for the UVI men’s basketball team, found not only a new home but also a pathway to pursue his passion for basketball and entrepreneurship.

Steger’s love for the game was ignited at an early age when his father introduced him to basketball and nurtured his talent.

“My dad liked basketball, so he put the ball in my hands, and I just fell in love with it. So ever since I was young, I've excelled in anything athletically,” Steger recalls.

Throughout high school in Virginia, Steger excelled on the basketball court, earning accolades such as First Team All-State and Player of the Year in his team’s conference. His impressive skills caught the attention of college recruiters, leading to a scholarship offer from Saint Augustine University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

After transferring to a junior college back home in Virginia, Steger received a scholarship from UVI, where he has since thrived both academically and athletically.

"I chose UVI because I felt like it was the best option for me at the time. It allowed me to pursue my dream of playing basketball and get an education,” he shares, reflecting on the pivotal decision that led him to trade the bustling streets of Virginia for the tranquil beauty of St. Thomas.

“At first, I will say it was a little bit of a culture shock,” he admits. “There were things I was not used to in the islands, such as driving on a different side of the road and getting acclimated with the culture. I was not used to people telling me ‘Good morning’ and ‘Good night.’”


Although Steger quickly found his footing at UVI and readily embraced his new surroundings, he found himself missing home frequently.


“Being so far away from home, sometimes you get a little homesick, but I just pushed through it. Basketball helped a lot because I wasn't really focused on being so far away from home,” he said.


Directing his energy and drive towards his basketball career and fostering relationships with his fellow Buccaneers helped Steger to manage his homesickness. As they traveled around the country together, the team developed brotherly bonds.


“​​We did a lot of traveling, which helped us bond together more. It made us more of a cohesive unit,” said Steger, who described the team as a closely knit family united by a deep drive to win.






The camaraderie from his teammates, coaching staff, UVI faculty, and community helped Steger thrive on and off the court, making his experience at UVI one filled with belonging and unity.


Ending his final season by winning four of the last six games, Steger is set to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Communications. He is excited about embarking on the next chapter of his journey, which includes returning to UVI to pursue a master's degree while also launching an entrepreneurial venture to resell shoes and clothes for an affordable price.

Tamia Grant: Reaching for the Stars at UVI

 Tamia Grant always gravitated toward science and mathematics in her studies and focused on advanced Placement and honors studies while attending high school in St. Croix. Originally from St. Kitts and Nevis, the double major (chemistry and physics) always dreamed of studying biology and becoming an obstetrician and never imagined having a different set of goals.

“I wanted to be an obstetrician, but in 11th grade after Hurricane Irma, I went into a deep state of depression. I lost motivation to do anything, and it skewed my view on college and my future,” said Grant. “When it came time to apply to colleges and explore future endeavors, I just wasn't motivated.”

Recognizing the challenges her daughter was facing and not wanting her to give up on her dream, Grant’s mother delivered an ultimatum: she could either stay at home with her in St. Croix and find a job or go to college. Grant chose to attend UVI, after applying as part of her high school’s requirement, and ultimately embarked on a journey that would lead to profound growth, exploration, and a new sense of community.

In her freshman year, Grant immersed herself in pre-med courses after choosing biology as her field of study. During her first semester at UVI, she took a chemistry class that made a deep impression and opened a path for a new direction in her life.

“I started as a biology major. I was doing pre-med, but I found a love of chemistry when I took my first chemistry class at UVI, so I switched my major,” said Grant.

Grant started to dive into her experiences at UVI, joining the National Society of Black Physicists on campus.

“I got involved with the physics program because I was in the National Society of Black Physicists on campus, and we were doing a community outreach session where we went up to Etelman Observatory and looked at the stars to discuss the physics concepts with various individuals,” Grant recalls. “And I was like, you know what? I want to be a part of things like this. So, I added physics to my degree program.”

While things were progressing positively on the academic front, the end of a significant personal relationship in 2021 left Grant feeling lost and in the throes of depression.

“To distract myself from dwelling on the breakup and on being depressed, I started exploring extracurricular activities for the first time,” she recollects.

Becoming deeply involved in a variety of academic and leadership activities provided fulfillment and the sense of belonging she had been seeking.

Grant’s interest in astronomy stemmed from her fascination with the night sky and shifted towards engineering as a result of her involvement in a research project with NASA.

Grant worked with her mentor, professor of physics and astronomy, Dr. David C. Morris, on a NASA project involving a high-altitude balloon carrying a satellite payload. The project aimed to detect gamma radiation from the Crab Nebula supernova, a massive star that exploded hundreds of years ago and continues to emit X-rays.

Grant defines her time on the project as an extraordinary experience that sparked her interest in design engineering.

“It's been a pretty amazing experience for me,” she said. “I want to shout out the physics department in general for all the opportunities that they gave me. They were a major part of my decision to go into engineering.”

During her time at the University, Grant was elected President of the Student Government Association, served as Miss UVI, joined the National Society of Black Physicists, and was President of the Society of Women Engineers.

Grant is grateful for her experiences at UVI, especially the professors, mentors, and staff around campus such as cafe workers and custodial staff members who helped her to develop a spirit of resilience and purpose, and allowed her to thrive academically, personally, and socially.

“I would not have grown and been as comfortable with myself and as sure about what I want out of life if I did not go to UVI,” she declared.

Celestial Dazle: A Journey through Education and Growth

Celestial Dazle

The University of the Virgin Islands serves as a gateway to education, growth, and empowerment for students like Celestial Dazle. Born and raised on St. Thomas, Dazle’s academic career was fueled by her determination and drive for personal fulfillment both mentally and physically. Her journey to majoring in Business Management with a minor in Communications at UVI has been marked by maintaining a delicate balance between personal aspirations and self-empowerment.

Dazle grew up in a household that was affected by mental health challenges.

“From a young age, I dealt with parents who struggled with mental health issues. My father has been diagnosed with schizophrenia as well as bipolar disorder. The severity of his mental health prevented him from working, and that really impacted my life,” she recalls.

Despite feeling immensely loved by her parents, the environment put a strain on Dazle’s own mental health and affected her self-esteem. Being a firsthand witness to the impacts of stigma and adversity, Dazle found her proverbial light at the end of the tunnel when she started attending the UVI and came upon an opportunity that would change her forever.

In the summer of 2022, Dazle was offered the opportunity to participate in the Washington D.C. program as an undergraduate intern for two months. She worked remotely, attended her courses, and managed to find free time during the week to explore the Washington Center and the District of Columbia.

“One of the most impactful moments [of my career at UVI] was going to the Washington Center for one of the internship programs, because during that time I was facing a lot of challenges with my mental health,” Dazle shared.

It was during these moments of exploration that Dazle was able to witness different perspectives from diverse communities within the district. Specifically, she obtained a great deal of knowledge after seeing how people interacted outside of the Virgin Islands.

After the program, Dazle found herself embracing more programs, responsibilities, and opportunities that would ultimately help expand her college and leadership experiences. Most important, they broadened her point of view and instilled a newfound confidence in her.

The following summer, Dazle participated with the UVI Passport to the World program and had the opportunity to go to Egypt, marking her first international travel experience.

The program offered a vivid, eye-opening experience of Egypt's culture and landscapes; participants explored Cairo, visited temples, walked through the pyramids, cruised the Nile River, and interacted with locals.

Nadege Barber: It Takes a Village

Nadege Barber

Native to Dominica, the Nature Island of the Caribbean, Nadege Barber moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2019, shortly before beginning her college journey. She recalls her upbringing with great fondness, crediting many of her early achievements to the unwavering support of her mother, brother, and village.

“I believe my upbringing was one of the best. I was mainly raised by my mother. I love my culture and how community-based we are. I know nearly everyone from my village, and it has really developed me into the person that I want to be, and I consider myself to be,” said Barber.


Encouraged to dream big and aim high, shortly after moving to the Virgin Islands she decided to attend the University of the Virgin Islands after being spurred by a positive influence, Jana Austrie, a staff member at the University, who led her to what now considers her second home.


“She basically sold the school to me. She also committed to assisting me to sign up for classes,” Barber recalled.


In her home village, Barber had been considered a student with a great deal of potential. However, as her journey of self-discovery began and she took steps toward academic and personal growth, she realized that she did not know what having potential truly meant.


“What does it mean to have potential? How do I tap into that extra potential I may have? Is there a possibility of reaching that potential? How do I go about doing that? It was always confusing,” she wondered.


Despite the initial hardships and moments of doubt in her early college career, Barber found solace amid adversity. Lost in a sea of unfamiliar faces and foreign landscapes, Barber had discovered a newfound village at UVI that would lead her to discover the untapped potential within her.


Barber recalls several people who provided the guidance that shaped her academic and personal evolution.

 


Dr. Sharon Honore, associate professor in the UVI Communication Unit, was the first to push Barber out of her comfort zone.


“I never was someone who would share an opportunity that I was going to attend. I always, if I did something, and I succeeded, then I would probably share it with family and friends but never in a public space,” Barber said. “So, she pushed me to get accustomed to doing so with the aim of inspiring others to achieve these different opportunities or at least take advantage of the different opportunities including the study exchange program with Denmark.”


The support from the University did not stop there. Barber recollects the many faculty members, professors, and students who contributed to her self-discovery and academic success including the staff from career services, staff from the business services, and residence hall faculty members.

“It doesn't stop at one department. It doesn't stop at one person. It doesn't stop at one professor. It's all of them. Anybody who I encountered, I'm grateful for their support, especially through the highs and rough states. I believe they carried me through,” she added.

Barber enjoyed a successful career at UVI. She participated in the study exchange program in Denmark, was UVI’s National Association of Black Journalist (NABJ) president, attended the NABJ Convention in Las Vegas and served as an ambassador and influencer for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Serving as a liaison between the organization and students at other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) through her four years at UVI, Barber addressed her fears and questions and ultimately pursued opportunities that fostered her growth. Along the way, she discovered a reservoir of resilience and potential within herself thanks to the support and mentorship from her UVI village.