Pioneers of Progress: UVI Celebrates First Graduates of Executive MBA Program

From left to right: Edidiong Utibe, Candace Warner Shoy, Kenneth Alleyne, Sana Joseph Smith, Kim Jerome 

This May, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) will proudly celebrate a milestone in its commitment to excellence in higher education and leadership development: the graduation of the inaugural cohort of students from its Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program. These five trailblazing professionals—four from the U.S. Virgin Islands and one from St. Kitts—are not just earning a degree; they are setting a new standard for executive leadership in the Caribbean and beyond.


Launched in 2023 under the leadership of (then) Dean Dr. Kendra Harris and Dr. Eustace Esdaille, UVI’s EMBA program is a one-year graduate program designed for experienced professionals seeking to elevate their leadership capabilities and expand their strategic business acumen.


Coursework blends traditional business fundamentals with emerging trends in finance, marketing, ethical leadership, supply chain management, and strategic planning. Through case studies and collaborative projects, students explore practical solutions to real-world problems, all while fostering social and environmental responsibility. Led by Dr. Peggy Daniels Lee, an esteemed educator and former professor at Indiana University, the program provides a dynamic learning environment rooted in innovation, collaboration, and practical application.


“It has been a joy working with professionals who bring such rich experience into the classroom,” said Dr. Lee, who serves as UVI’s Interim Director of the EMBA Program and Interim Chair of the Management, Marketing & Construction Management Department. “The students are very committed and incredibly energetic. Sometimes, our classes felt more like conversations than lectures and extended well beyond the end time.”


EMBA graduate Sana Joseph Smith added, "UVI's Executive MBA program allowed me to take conversations and ideas shared in class and effectively use them in my professional life and businesses. The real-world application of what was learned in the courses was the best part of the program for me."


Smith, who serves as a policy advisor to the Governor of the Virgin Islands and is a local business owner, hopes her graduate degree will open doors to teaching at a university level. A champion of financial literacy, home ownership and economic development, Smith is eager to share her knowledge and experience with the next generation.


Each student brought a wealth of real-world experience, contributing to an atmosphere of shared learning and strategic dialogue. The cohort structure fostered a close-knit network of peers who challenged and supported one another throughout the program.


The inaugural graduating class also includes Kenneth Alleyne, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, with expertise in logistics, supply chain management, and entrepreneurship; Kim Jerome, a healthcare administrator and clinical manager, and successful property manager on St. Croix; Candace Warner Shoy, the General Manager of the Marriott St. Kitts Beach Club, and Edidiong Utibe who is involved in her family-owned cultural clothing business.


Whether managing healthcare, managing businesses, advising governments, or leading hospitality teams, these graduates are equipped to shape the future of Caribbean and global enterprise.


With the inaugural class paving the way, UVI is now preparing for its next EMBA cohort, slated to begin in Fall 2025. The program seeks driven professionals with a passion for growth, innovation, and leadership—individuals ready to rise to the challenge of the modern business world.


“This program is about transformation,” said Dr. Lee. “These students came in as accomplished professionals and are leaving as visionary leaders.”


To learn more or apply, visit Graduate Admission Guidelines.