Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Future Global Leaders Focus on Leading During Natural Disasters

The UVI 2010 Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders opened with a ceremony on May 18, on UVI’s St. Thomas campus. Mark Walters, executive director of the Virgin Islands Emergency Management Agency, was the keynote speaker at the institute’s official opening ceremony. The theme for this year’s institute is “Managing Natural Disasters: A Call for Future Global Leaders."
As the world witnessed the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti and the volcano in Iceland, effectively managing natural disasters is one of the most pressing issues for leaders, said Dr. Solomon Kabuka, the institute’s director. One of this year’s highlights, according to Dr. Kabuka, will be the participation of seven students from Haiti. The students will share their experience in the “Forum on Managing Natural Disasters I – The Haitian Experience.” The institute brings together 40 students from 16 countries and 22 university campuses in the Caribbean and the U.S mainland for two weeks of intensive study. For the complete press release click this direct link. Pictured: Juanita Duenez-Lazo, director of International Education at Texas Woman’s University, with Future Global Leaders Institute Director Dr. Solomon Kabuka at the opening ceremony.