DIASPORA | Lets Connect to feature Exchange Study opportunities between UWI and America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities

WASHINGTON DC,  May 23, 2022– Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks will host Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UWI Mona Campus in Kingston,  Professor Dale Webber on her monthly series, Lets Connect with Ambassador Marks, on Thursday May 26, 2022 at 7:00 pm EDT.

Ambassador Marks stated that the upcoming virtual town hall will highlight the opportunities being created by UWI in collaboration with HBCUs for exchange programmes and scholarships for students at UWI Mona and students attending HBCUs in pursuit of academic excellence. 

The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Howard University University Dr. Tashni-Ann DuBroy, a Jamaican, will join the programme as a special guest and will  highlight the opportunities being created by Howard University  for exchange programmes for students at UWI students attending HBCUs.

The UWI is also holding discussions  with top rated Historically Black Colleges and Universities as well as Diaspora members, to expand scholarships and facilitate participation in the exchange programme.

Ambassador Marks said she was very pleased that Dr. Webber and  Dr. DuBroy have accepted her invitation to have a direct conversation with members of the Diaspora given the important role that HBCUs continue to play in educating members of the Jamaican Diaspora in the United States.

HBCUs are higher education institutions within the United States that were originally established with a mandate of providing higher education opportunities to African-American students. This was done in the 19th Century in an effort to offset the historical injustices of slavery and later segregation and their resulting impact on education within the Black community.

Ambassador Marks said as part of Jamaica 60 Independence celebrations, sixty Jamaican students will be identified to launch the exchange programme. This is expected to increase to approximately a thousand  students annually.

Ambassador Marks said there are currently a little over 100 HBCUs in the United states, representing approximately 3% of US higher-education institutions. These institutions are concentrated around the south-eastern United States. While predominantly catering to Black/African-American students, non-Black students made up approximately 24% of enrollment at HBCUs.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor along with UWI’s Campus Registrar, Dr. Donovan Stanbury and Bursar Mrs Catherine Park Twaites are in Washington this week to hold educational discussions aimed at strengthening the bonds between the UWI and the HBCUs.

They will also be meeting with the US Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs as well as the president of various universities. These include Dr. Mark Wrighton President of  Georgetown University; Dr. Wayne Frederick, President of Howard University and Dr. Tony Allen, President of Delaware State University and Chair of President Biden’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs among others.

 ‘Let’s Connect with Ambassador Marks’ enables members of the Diaspora to communicate directly with the Ambassador about matters affecting their lives in the USA and also stay up to date with the Government’s policies and programmes, as well as the Embassy’s activities.

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E Audrey Marks is occasionally joined by distinguished guests, including US government officials, key players in various local and international organizations, and prominent members of the Jamaican Diaspora.