The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) is pleased to announce that Dr. Dietra Trent, executive director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), will be the keynote speaker at the 62nd Charter Day program, an annual event that celebrates the University's founding and recognizes its achievements. The event will take place on Friday, March 15, at 10 a.m. in the LaVerne E. Ragster Administration and Conference Center, in the first-floor conference room, on the Orville E. Kean Campus on St. Thomas and streamed to the Great Hall on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix.
Dr. Trent leads a government-wide policymaking effort to eliminate barriers HBCUs face in providing the highest-quality education to a growing number of students. Her experience includes more than twenty-five years working to advance equity for Virginia’s most disadvantaged populations.
"We are honored to have Dr. Dietra Trent join us as the keynote speaker for our Charter Day celebration, an event that not only looks back at the amazing achievements of this institution but also looks forward to the opportunities ahead," said UVI President Dr. David Hall. “I am overjoyed to have Dr. Trent, one of the foremost authorities on HBCUs, share her knowledge, experience and perspectives with our students as well as preview the many opportunities the White House Initiative on HBCUs makes available to UVI students. We strive to provide opportunities for our students to excel well beyond the foundations we have laid and give them opportunities to be leaders to help shape the world around them.”
This year's Charter Day program promises to be a memorable occasion, with Dr. Trent's keynote address highlighting the importance of HBCUs in shaping the future of education. UVI’s Director of Music Dion Parson, accompanied by jazz trombonist and pioneer of seashells as instruments, Steve Turre, will be among the talented artists that will provide entertainment. Following the program, participants are invited to an ice cream social, with other light refreshments and music just outside the ACC Building and the Great Hall on the Sheen Campus.
For more information about the University of the Virgin Islands Charter Day program, please visit https://www.uvi.edu/calendar/index.htm or https://events.uvi.edu.
About the University of the Virgin Islands:
The University of the Virgin Islands is a public, co-ed, land-grant HBCU (Historically Black College and University) located in the United States Virgin Islands. With campuses on St. Thomas and St. Croix, and an extension campus on St. Martin, the University offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including business, education, nursing, and marine biology. The University of the Virgin Islands is committed to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in their chosen fields and contributes to the development of the Virgin Islands community.
For more information contact pr@uvi.edu or visit https://www.uvi.edu.