Professor Nigel Harris appointed 9th Chancellor of University

Georgetown: The University of Guyana has announced that the former Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor Nigel Harris has been appointed to serve as the ninth Chancellor of the University.
“I welcome this opportunity to work with the leaders, staff and students of the University of Guyana community, as well as with Government and other stakeholders to forge the growth and success of this institution so critical to the economic, social and cultural development of Guyana and the Caribbean,” Professor Harris said in commenting on his new appointment.
He succeeds Dr Compton Bourne who had served from 2009 to 2012.
Professor Harris has a wealth of knowledge, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Howard University in 1968 and then proceeded to Yale University, where he received a Master of Philosophy Degree in Biochemistry in 1973. He also has a Medical Degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Harris had returned to the Caribbean to complete his residency in internal medicine at the University of the West Indies at Mona. He was subsequently awarded the post-graduate degree, Doctor of Medicine (DM) in 1981.
Professor Harris has held many leadership positions, including Vice-Chancellor of the University of West Indies (October 1, 2004 to April 30, 2015); President of the Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes (UNICA)from 2012 to 2015, and Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities for a two-year term (2011-2013). He is internationally known for his work as a Rheumatologist.
Throughout his years, Professor Harris acquired many notable awards including the Cacique Crown of Honour from Guyana in 2011 and the Martin Luther King International Award in 2010.
Also, the 11th Congressional District of the USA declared February 11, 2015, the “Eon Nigel Harris Day” in recognition of his contributions to medical research.
Chancellor Harris is married to Dr C Yvette Williams-Harris, a general internist and they have three children and five grandchildren.
Meanwhile, given his notable work worldwide, it is expected that Professor Harris will succeed in transforming the University of Guyana into one of international standard.
As Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Professor Harris focused on programmes that enhanced contributions of the University to Caribbean Governments; strengthened services of the University to its stakeholders; broadened funding; and enhanced alumni relations and marketing.
A particular area of interest has been re-structuring the University of the West Indies presence in the 12 Caribbean countries that contribute to the University, but have no campuses.
This led to the creation of a fourth campus, designated the “Open Campus” which is designed primarily to deliver education by distance to students in all 16 contributing countries.
During his tenure the regional University’s enrolment grew from about 24,000 to in excess of 47,000 students, the facilities in the 4 campuses expanded by more than 500,000 square feet and two new countries – Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos – joined the UWI consortium.