Institute for Gender & Development Studies: Nita Barrow Unit

The School for Graduate Studies and Research at The UWI Cave Hill Campus now proudly bears the name of Emerita Professor, the Most Honourable V. Eudine Barriteau.

A special renaming ceremony was held on July 23, 2025, attended by the President of Barbados, Her Excellency the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, along with campus faculty, staff, and members of the Barriteau family. 👏🏽✨

Congratulations to Professor Barriteau on this historic and well-deserved honour! 🎉🎓

Today, The UWI Cave Hill Campus' School for Graduate Studies and Research will be named in honour of Emerita Professor V Eudine Barriteau. 🎉🎉

"We hail Hazel Simmons-McDonald, professor of words and their languages, administrator and conceptualizer of higher education, and a poetess of power with popular acclaim.
Like many Lucians, she embraced The UWI, first at Mona and then spreading wings across the archipelago. She landed at Cave Hill, where she flourished as a teacher, Head of Department, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education.
Many experienced her as a bundle of dizzying energy, never tiring and always inspiring. There was no surprise when she was called upon to serve as the first Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Open Campus, which was desperately in need of her special skills and commitment. Her contributions to the ‘Open’ and ‘Global’ Campus were an extension of her impressive investment at Cave Hill."

The following is a statement from Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles on the passing of Emerita Professor Hazel Simmons McDonald:

There are moments when sad hearings of a passing shatter the shield with which we surround our friends and loved ones. But they are quickly followed by a flood of feelings, enshrined in experiences that constitute a Milky Way of memories.

We hail Hazel Simmons-McDonald, professor of words and their languages, administrator and conceptualizer of higher education, and a poetess of power with popular acclaim.

Like many Lucians, she embraced The UWI, first at Mona and then spreading wings across the archipelago. She landed at Cave Hill, where she flourished as a teacher, Head of Department, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education.

Many experienced her as a bundle of dizzying energy, never tiring and always inspiring. There was no surprise when she was called upon to serve as the first Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Open Campus, which was desperately in need of her special skills and commitment. Her contributions to the ‘Open’ and ‘Global’ Campus were an extension of her impressive investment at Cave Hill.

But she never forgot the significance of her first engagement as a scholar. Writing, speaking, publishing and editing remained the centre of her gravity. Traversing the region and the world beyond, her voice as a generous scholar was salient. She was admired and respected. Her ancestral Saint Lucia celebrated her as a ‘piton’ and enabled her to feel the sensation of the elevation.

We hail Hazel for all she did and meant. She moved smoothly and productively among us and into retirement, where there was no resting for the researcher.

From her beloved UWI, we send book loads of blessings and gratitude to blaze the trail of her eternal soul on its journey back home.

The UWI Cave Hill Campus mourns the passing of distinguished academic, Emerita Professor Hazel Simmons- McDonald.

A prolific writer and staunch advocate for the advancement of the Creole language in St Lucia, Professor Simons-McDonald promoted the teaching of French Creole to children who were not fluent in English, ensuring that no child was left behind due to their lack of fluency in English.

Following decades of research, she recently developed a pilot programme using an introductory text as teaching tool for speakers of French Creole in St Lucia.

Professor Simmons-McDonald held several teaching and administrative posts at The UWI Cave Hill Campus, including lecturer, senior lecturer, and Professor in the Departments of Linguistics and the merged Department of Language, Linguistics and Literature. She was also the Deputy Dean of Outreach, Deputy Dean of Planning, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education.

She also served as co-Chair of The UWI Cultural Studies Initiative that established the discipline at Cave Hill, and was later appointed to the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Open Campus.

Simmons-McDonald was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to education and educational leadership in 2011.

The UWI Cave Hill Campus extends sincere condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and students.

💙💛Our Research Assistant Ceresa Springer-Barnett is rocking her socks for World Down Syndrome Day 2025! 💙💛

On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day, recognizing the need to raise public awareness, promote inclusion, and advocate for the rights of individuals with Down syndrome. Every year, this day reminds us to celebrate the abilities and contributions of people with Down syndrome while working towards a more inclusive society.

This year's theme is: Improve our support systems, which calls on Governments to create support mechanisms to advance more inclusive societies.

Want to find out more? Make sure you are following disability organisations in your country!

Are you rocking your socks today?

Scenes from the student awareness campaign from the GEND 2005!

📢 Join the class of GEND 2005 as they raise awareness about sexual assault and sexual harassment!

📅 Date: March 19th, 2025
⏰ Time: 10 AM – 1 PM
📍 Location: The UWI Guild Lawn

Come and learn more about The UWI Sexual Harassment Policy 📜 and sexual health & wellness 🩺 with our amazing partners!

See you there!

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us for the Verandah Chat & Night Market last Friday!

🙌🏿 A heartfelt thank you to:
💬 Our incredible speakers
🛍️ The amazing women-owned businesses that showcased their products
🤝 Our partners, CIBC Caribbean, for their support
📸 And of course, all of YOU for showing up, engaging, and celebrating International Women’s Day 2025 with us!