For Trevincia Browne, an accounting major from Saint Kitts & Nevis, attending the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) was much more than just an academic experience, as it enabled her to discover strengths within herself that she had not explored before.
“I used to be more reserved and soft-spoken and often stayed within my comfort zone. But when I came to UVI, I found myself stepping into spaces I never imagined,” said Browne, adding, “I had the opportunity to speak in front of large crowds, which is something I have never done before and that experience helped me grow in confidence. I was also selected as the invocation speaker for the class of 2026, which I’m truly honored by. I always say that UVI really showed me my true potential.”
Despite once being more reserved, her experience at UVI has been quite the opposite, as she has grown into a passionate leader within the UVI community.
“Because of all my experiences here, I’ve now grown a passion for leadership. To go from staying within my comfort zone to now embracing leadership and public speaking –- that’s amazing! and it’s something that I’m really proud of.”
In October of 2024, Browne became the entrepreneurial committee chairperson for the Student Government Association at UVI. In her role, she led a team of eight students and organized the Pathway to Success Entrepreneurial Forum, which she says is one of her “proudest moments.”
“I brought entrepreneurs from St. Thomas to UVI, and they gave students, both those who already have businesses and those who aspire to have businesses, insights on how to successfully launch and sustain their businesses. When I look back, I'm still very proud of this accomplishment because that was where my leadership skills really shined through, and in that moment, I became aware of my strong leadership abilities,” Browne says.
She also attributed her newfound love for leadership to this event, saying, “That experience made me fall in love with leadership as well because I also realized that leadership is not just about telling people what to do, it is about creating real impact and making a positive difference in the lives of those that you serve.”
Along with her experience in the SGA, Browne is also UVI’s student representative on the Artificial Intelligence Ad-Hoc Committee and a Presidential Scholar. Being a President Scholar is Browne’s “highest achievement,” and has provided her with opportunities to represent the university in high-level spaces as well as gain hands-on experience in her field of study.
“I worked with the internal auditor last semester, which gave me valuable exposure to auditing. I also worked with the Chief Financial Officer, which provided insight to the financial side of operations,” she said, adding that “UVI strengthened my leadership skills and provided a strong foundation for my career goal of becoming a Certified Public Accountant. I like to say that UVI is my launch pad.”
Adding to her long list of accomplishments, Browne will be graduating Magna Cum
Laude, an honor bestowed on graduates with a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.74. After graduation, she will attend the University of Miami to pursue a Master of Science in Accountancy.
Looking back on her time at UVI, the word she chose to describe her experience is “transformative.” Browne also added, “I went from staying within my comfort zone to stepping into opportunities that challenged me and helped me grow, and that opened the doors for so many lasting opportunities. One thing I’ve learned is to take full advantage of every opportunity, even those that push you outside of your comfort zone, because the experiences that challenge you the most are often the ones that help you grow the most.”
Spending the last two years at UVI has allowed Browne to step out of her comfort zone and embrace opportunities that were new to her. As she moves on from UVI, she leaves behind a lasting impact -- just as the University has left on her.
