Professor John Edward Greene was named as the new Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG) putting an end to the year-long search following the end of Chancellor Emeritus Nigel Harris’ term. The University also named British Parliamentarian Rt Hon David Lammy as the University’s First Envoy Extraordinaire.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the University’s Council on Saturday.
Professor Greene is a former United Nations Special Envoy and CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General. Chancellor (elect) Greene is expected to be installed in a simple ceremony during this year’s Convocation exercise on Saturday, November 16, 2019.
Professor Greene was born in Guyana and attended Queen’s College. He is currently CEO, Global Frontier Development and Advisory Services (GOFAD) a Think Tank, is 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) and Senior Adviser, Public Policy, Health and Human Development, PAHO/WHO (1995-1999).
His distinguished academic career at UWI included: service as Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Development and Alumni Relations; University Director, Institute of Social and Economic Relations (ISER); Interim Director, Consortium Graduate School for the Social Sciences in the Caribbean (1984-1986); and appointments to the rank of Professor (1988), and Inaugural Professorial Fellow, ISER (1994).
He has authored 10 books and over 60 articles in refereed journals and is Professor Emeritus of UWI. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics (University of London), MSc Political Economy (Mc Master University), and PhD (University of British Columbia) and held visiting Professorships at UCLA, University of Havana, and University of British Columbia.
Meanwhile, Lammy who was born to Guyanese parents began serving in the British Parliament in 2000. He studied law at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. He earned an LL.M from Harvard Law School. Lammy has served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills and later as Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills. He had continuously maintained active interests in Guyana.
