In the regular session of its quarterly meeting on June 21, 2025, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Board of Trustees reelected Henry Smock to serve as chairman of the Board and Dr. Bert Petersen, Jr. to serve as vice chair.
Chairman Smock thanked outgoing vice chair Oran Roebuck for seven years of dedicated service and congratulated Trustee Petersen on his nomination. Chairman Smock also thanked UVI Faculty Trustee Barbara Flemming and Student Trustee Jermika Roumou for their service on the Board.
During Saturday’s meeting, the Board unanimously voted to approve the submission of a proposal to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to strengthen institutional capacity and holistic student success at HBCUs through innovative and sustainable projects that enhance career guidance and experiential learning programs; implement retention and completion strategies; invest in faculty development and student services; expand research capabilities through Research Infrastructure Development; and improve operational efficiency through modernization of systems and services. The potential funding aligns with the University’s strategic plan, Grand Momentum: 2025-2030.
In further action, the Board authorized updates to be made to the articles of incorporation, bylaws, and standard operating procedures of the UVI at USM Foundation, which was established under the University’s longstanding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of St. Martin (USM). As part of the resolution, the UVI Board of Trustees will serve as the Foundation’s Supervisory Board. Chairman Henry Smock was re-appointed ex-officio Chair of the UVI at USM Foundation Board of Directors and President Dr. Safiya George will serve as an ex-officio member of the Board. Trustees Reginald Vigilant and John P. de Jongh, Jr. were also appointed to the Board. Additional ex-officio appointments include Dr. Una Dyer, UVI vice president of Strategic Affairs and executive director of the UVI Foundation, in her role as Executive Director of the UVI at USM Foundation; Dr. Lora Bailey, incoming provost and vice president of Academic Affairs; and Guadalupe Valencia, incoming interim vice president for Administration and Finance/CFO. Dr. Bailey and Valencia will both join UVI on July 1.
Originally signed in 2015, the UVI at USM MOU underscores a mutual commitment to academic excellence through joint program articulation, student transfers, degree completion, and collaborative research. Dr. George said that UVI affirms its intent to deepen its partnership with USM by strengthening the support services provided to UVI at USM students.
During the meeting, President George presented the President’s Excellence Award to three outstanding members of the University community in recognition of their exceptional servant leadership, excellence in customer service, and an overwhelming positive institutional impact. This quarter’s honorees are:
- Theodore Glasford, Chief of Campus Security and Police – St. Thomas
- Joel White, Chief of Campus Security and Police – St. Croix
- Toi Matthews, Assistant Vice President for Administration
“They have each demonstrated a steady commitment to identifying and implementing solutions to institutional challenges and have gone above and beyond in their roles, and their contributions reflect a proactive commitment to addressing institutional challenges and driving meaningful improvements across the institution,” said Dr. George, who presented Matthews and White with a plaque at Saturday’s Board meeting.
Board Chairman Smock reported that while in Executive Session, the Board approved and received reports and updates on the following:
- Approved Executive Session Minutes
- Approved Tenure for a Faculty Member
- Discussed a proposed meal plan increase
- Discussed online overload parttime summer tuition increases
- Approved a TIAA consultant being retained
- Approved Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
- Received a Report from the Planning Committee
The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Oct. 18.
For more information contact the University’s Public Relations Office at pr@uvi.edu.
St. Croix Source
People, Schools
