UVI Communications Majors Make Big Splash in Territory, World

UVI graduate April Fale-Knight announces the launch of WUVI , while UVI communications Professor Dr. Alexander Randall (left) and UVI communications graduate Leslyn Tonge stand in the background.

The University of the Virgin Islands Communication program is making a resounding impact in the region and beyond. Many of UVI’s former majors are now positioned in the communications industry as they provide news and information to the public. Within the last three years alone, the University’s success rate has sky-rocketed and includes the following graduates and seniors.

• April Rose Fale-Knight (‘11) is a news reporter with News 2 on CBS TV2, where she occasionally fills in as anchor, a reporter with VI Source, an online newspaper, and station manager of WUVI. She is based on St. Thomas. (St. Thomas Campus)

• April Glasgow (‘09) is communications officer at the Ministry of Finance, British Virgin Islands. (St. Thomas Campus)

•  Sana Hamed (‘09) works at GM Financial in Dallas, Texas and produces newsletters for this division. (Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix)

• Jaedee Caines (‘10) editor of the Nevis Island Administration’s Department of Information and has just started graduate school with the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. (St. Thomas Campus)

• Malkia Morton (‘11) completed a  master of arts in international public relations and global communications management at the Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom and is an intern with Development Counsellors International, a marketing firm in New York, that handles the United States Virgin Islands’ tourism account.  (Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix)

• · Sean David (‘11) operates S Dot Films, a production company, in Los Angeles, California. (St. Thomas Campus)

UVI Communications Graduate Jaedee Caines

•  Nesha David (‘11) was formally with ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation in St. Kitts, and is now communications and research officer for the Department of Constituency Empowerment for the Government of St. Kitts/ Nevis. (St. Thomas Campus)

• Shauna Tucker (‘12) is a reporter at the Avis Newspaper, on St. Croix. (Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix)

• Sheniqua Robinson (‘13) is a reporter with News 2 on CBS TV2 based on St. Croix. (Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix)

• Wyndi Ambrose (‘13) is a freelance reporter for the Avis Newspaper on St. Croix. (Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix)

• Jonathan Paul (‘13) is a reporter at the VI Source, an online newspaper. (Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix)

• Leslyn Tonge (‘13) is an administrative specialist in the Provost’s Office at UVI. (St. Thomas Campus) 

• Twanna Hodge (‘13) is pursuing a master’s degree in library science at the University of Washington. (St. Thomas Campus)

• Rich Motta is a Communications Officer in the Office of Sen. Diane Capehart. (Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix)

“My time at the University of the Virgin Islands was well spent,” said Jaedee Caines. “The television, public speaking and radio courses were beneficial. I am now able to host my own weekly television program all because of the experience I gathered at UVI.” She continued, “Thank you UVI for preparing me for the world of work. I definitely believe that other students can benefit from opportunities at UVI.”

Nesha David said working with her fellow communications majors prepared her for her current post. “I was able to transition very smoothly for my part in the working world,” she said. “It was a seamless transition.”

“We are proud of the successes of UVI’s Communications Program,” said UVI Associate Professor of Journalism Dr. Gillian Royes. “Our goal is to continue to grow along with the world’s changing technology.” Currently, courses are video-conferenced between the St. Thomas Campus, the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and the St. John Academic Center in journalism, public relations, broadcasting and internet media. UVI’s new radio station WUVI, on St. Thomas, which simulcasts from St. Croix, can be found at 1090 AM and online at http://wuvi.am. “Our graduates are achieving carrier success which proves the value of studying the public media at the university level,” said UVI Department of Music, Communication, Art and Theatre Chairperson Dr. Alexander Randall. “We expect to grow the program to reach our neighboring islands and raise the caliber of public media throughout the region.”