The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) awarded certificates to 55 graduates of its nationally accredited Certified Public Manager™program during a virtual ceremony held last month.
The online event was moderated by Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras, director of the UVI Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning (UVI CELL), and included reflections on the program by students from the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and the Orville E. Kean Campus on St. Thomas as well as group presentations by the St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John cohorts.
Representatives from Government of the Virgin Islands departments across the territory, including U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr. and Director of the Division of Personnel Cindy Richardson, and UVI officials joined the graduates’ friends, families and loved ones in recognizing the students’ successful completion of the comprehensive management development program, which prepares managers for careers in federal, state, local government and in other organizations with a public purpose.
UVI Provost Dr. Camille McKayle addressed the graduating class, encouraging them to “build on the information gained ... put [it] into practice. Keep adding value, keep adding to your community, and adding to self,” while also extending appreciation to Dr. Haldane Davies, CPM program director for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Chair of the National Certified Public Manager Consortium, for his vision.
Describing the University’s CPM program as a “dynamic and innovative approach to creative leadership and management in the public service,” Dr. Davies congratulated the students for making an “excellent career decision” and charged them to practice and uphold seven key principles of public service: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
“Notwithstanding the many challenges across our nation and around the world, CPM professionals are needed now more than ever before. Indeed, when we are surrounded by the worst, we need CPM professionals at their best, and you are the best,” declared Dr. Davies.
This year’s graduates include managers from the Department of Education, the Department
of Human Services, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Office of the Governor,
the Department of Labor, the V.I. Housing Finance Authority and others.
Launched in July 2013, the Virgin Islands Certified Public Managers (VI-CPM™) Program
at the University of the Virgin Islands is a collaborative effort between the Division of Personnel in the Office
of the Governor and UVI CELL. Managed and delivered by UVI-CELL on both the St. Croix
and St. Thomas campuses, the program is an academic and professional development initiative
and is produced in partnership with the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For more information about the VI-CPM™ program, contact the Public Relations Office atpr@uvi.edu.
