3rd Edition #UGUniversity of Guyana’s Alumni PPLAssociation Official Magazine UG’s Butterfly Lady Dr. Gyanpriya Maharaj Entomologist & Behavioural Ecologist EDITOR’S NOTE IN THIS EDITION Note from the Editorial Team University#UG of Guyana’s Alumni AssociationPPL Official Magazine December 2020 elcome to the 3rd Edition of UG Creative Director People Online Magazine aka Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice-Chancellor, UG #UGPPL. Our new quarterly, online Assistant Creative Director Wmagazine was crafted especially for those Christine Chowargir, Senior Alumni Officer, UG-PACE Alumni of the University of Guyana (UG), who are interested in all the exciting things Design and Layout happening at UG since their graduation. Neketa Forde, Director (a.i), UG-DECC 31 Dr. Taijrani Rampersaud, Director (a.i.), UGBU, DECC Our aim is to engage, inform, entertain, and Makeda Braithwaite, Intern, UG-DECC inspire a diverse readership inclusive of Tara Smith, Technical Communication Officer, UG-PACE Shanelly Wilson, UG Alumni alumni, current and prospective students, faculty, staff as well as friends of the Copyeditor University of Guyana. Makeda Braithwaite, Intern, UG-DECC The purpose of #UGPPL, as the name Contributors suggests is to showcase, connect, support Prof. Edward Greene, Chancellor, UG and promote our UG people in our local, Trovana Azeez, Philanthropy Officer, UG-PACE Dr. Gyanpriya Maharaj, UG Alumni regional and international platforms. The Paulette Paul, UG Alumni magazine features a creative mixture of Krest Cummings, UG Alumni stories from inspirational alumni to business Allan Petty, UG Alumni opportunities at UG. Shane Rampertab, UG Alumni 14 Karishma Narain, UG Alumni So enjoy and do drop us a line telling us what Juanita Beejaimal, UG Alumni Jason Benjamin, UG Alumni you think. Alexander Ramessar, UG Alumni Ganesh Persaud, UG Alumni 5 UG ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF 27 CLOSEUP Jafar Gibbons, Current Student “Proud Legacy, Bold Destiny” Current Student UG’s 10th Chancellor Ganesh Persaud Euville Xavier, Lavern Fraser, Sports Director, UG UG’s 11th Vice-Chancellor Kishan Ramesh University of Guyana Astronomical Society UG’s Deputy Vice-Chancellors Dr. Seon Levius 10 DPI Guyana 12 THINK ON THIS... 35 AWARDS Guyana Times Newspaper Wisdom - The Poem The First Ethel Carew Scholar WANT TO CONNECT WITH US? Stabroek News Online Send us your photos, letters, stories, and you could be Kaieteur News Online featured in the next edition of #UGPPL. News Source Guyana 16 WHAT’S HAPPENING? 36 UG STAFF #UGPPL IS A PRODUCTION OF: Potsdam State University of New York UG Alumni Association (UGAA) My Journey at UG THE UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA - PACE University of Guyana Library Long Service Awards Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE) University of Guyana Department of Events, Conferences and Communication 18 WAY TO GO Second Floor, Old Admissions Building, Turkeyen UG’s 2019 Graduation 38 UG STUDENTS Campus, Georgetown, Guyana Campus Connections Photography Shamar Austin 20 AND THE AWARD GOES TO... UGSS President UG Sports Local: +592 623–3154, 623–3159 or 623–3156 University of Guyana - PACE Guyanese in Hugh Wooding Law Overseas: +1 (347) 985–9055 UG Alumni Association School Email: [email protected] or [email protected] The Learning Resource Centre Website: ugalumnipride.com The Centre for Communication Studies 22 PRIDE LOADING... Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/147917995@N05/albums UG Astronomical Society YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ (UGAS) UCQuiVE9a-v3_SKhwgNcP7Vw/videos 2 www.ugalumnipride.com www.ugalumnipride.com 3 UG ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF LOOKING FOR New Chancellor AUTHENTIC ARTSY in the House! n November 9, 2019, the University of Guyana’s OCouncil concluded its year-long search for a new Chancellor following the end of Chancellor POST CARDS? Emeritus Nigel Harris’ term in November 2018. Former UN Special Envoy and CARICOM Deputy Then support the University of Guyana’s Secretary General Professor Edward Greene was elected as the 10th Chancellor for the University of Art Department, Artists in Residence Guyana. Professor Emeritus Greene was installed at a simple ceremony on Saturday, November 16, Programme. 2019, at Turkeyen Campus Convocation. His first duty as Chancellor was to confer degrees 1 box of post cards (12 cards and envelopes from 6 and diplomas to the graduating class of 2019. During his address, the Chancellor highlighted that original paintings by University of Guyana students) he will work with stakeholders within and outside of the University to build accountability. Professor John Edward Greene, = USD $20 PhD, CCH Chancellor, UG He noted, “Accountability to the future means To order visit, the Third Floor, Old Admissions Building, The University of understanding what the core values of the Guyana, Turkeyen, Campus. And for more details please contact +592 University are and promoting them. The 623-3159, 623-3154, or visit website: www.ugalumnipride.com or paceuog. imperatives for you as you leave this campus are really to be seen as part of the product wixsite.com/pace-uog. and part of the investment in higher education from Guyana and to give internal recognition for protecting the integrity of your qualifications.” Chancellor Greene was born in Guyana and attended Tutorial High School. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics (University of London), MSc Political Economy (Mc Master University), and Ph.D. (University of British Columbia) and held visiting Professorships at UCLA, University of Havana, and University of British Columbia. He is currently CEO, Global Frontier Development and Advisory Services (GOFAD) a Think Tank, a former UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for HIV in the Caribbean 2012-2017. He was previously Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, at the Caribbean Community Secretariat (2000–2010). Full Bio: www.uog.edu.gy/sites/default/files/attachments/ PRESS%20RELEASE%20LETTERHEAD.pdf www.ugalumnipride.com 5 UG ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF CONNECTING Registered Student Clubs on Campus. Enabling growth, experiences First Female and learning beyond the classroom setting. Vice-Chancellor University of Guyana Biology Club rofessor Paloma Mohamed Martin Contact person: Arianne-Elise (President) Pis the 11th Vice Chancellor of the Telephone no.: +592 658-6780 University of Guyana, the most youthful Email address: [email protected] and the first woman to ever hold the Facebook: @uogbiologyclub post in the University’s 57-year history. Instagram: @ugbiologyclub She is a highly decorated scholar and artist. She is a sought after strategist and UG Islamic Society (UGIS) change specialist having done her Ph.D Contact person: Amirah Shivrattan (President) specialization in these areas. Telephone no.: +592 669-9840 Email address: [email protected] Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin is a highly Facebook: University of Guyana Islamic Society successful fund-raiser and an academic, having widely published on various areas UG CS Tech Ed Revolution Club relating to the Arts, Social and Behavioural Contact person: Farnaz Baksh (Vice-President) Sciences. Prof. Mohamed Martin has led Telephone no.: +592 638-7689 an extensive international life and is a beloved teacher and notable researcher. Email address: [email protected] She has been variously referred to as a servant leader, a visionary and a titanium University of Guyana Hindu Society butterfly. Contact person: Jiashri Jethu (President) Telephone no.: +592 628-4584 In 2014, she was named by the US Email address: [email protected] government as one of the top 5 most Facebook: University of Guyana Hindu Society influential women in Guyana and in that same year became the first and Rotaract Club of University of Guyana only woman to hold the highly coveted Contact Person: Vanessa Leitch (President) Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Telephone no.: +592 628-2132 Excellence in Arts and Letters which Email address: [email protected] is considered the Nobel Prize of the Facebook page: @rotaractug Caribbean. She is also the recipient of two Instagram: @rotatact.ug Presidential awards and a City of New York Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/ Award among others. company/rotatact- university-of-guyana/ UG Robotics Club Contact person: Farnaz Baksh (President) Telephone no.: +592 638-7689 Professor Paloma Mohamed Email address: [email protected] Martin, PhD, SCL, A.A Vice-Chancellor, Xi, UG Eco Trust Society Visit http://ecotrustsociety.weebly.com for more information. 6 www.ugalumnipride.com UG ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Deputy Deputy Vice-Chancellor Vice-Chancellor Academic Engagement Institutional Advancement Dr. Emanuel Fitzpatrick He is a full member of both such as Dentistry, Optometry, Dr. Mellissa Ifill joined Apart from teaching at the Apart from her University Cummings is a Fulbright British Physiological Society Medical Rehabilitation, and the Department of undergraduate and graduate duties, Dr. Ifill has managed and Health System Global and Medical Imaging. levels, Dr. Ifill has served the multiple local projects Scholar and Reader in has served on the Editorial History at the University University as Assistant Dean and has been a consultant Biochemistry Molecular Board for the Indian Journal Dr. Cummings also has of Guyana in 1999. in the Faculty of Arts. for international agencies Medicine and Genetics, of Community Health. Dr. assisted with the development including USAID, FAO and extraordinary. Cummings was involved in the of a significant number of She has a Bachelor of Arts She was an active member the UNDP