The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) joins the Nation in remembering James “Jimmy” Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States of America who died on December 29, 2024.
In U.S. President Joe Biden’s proclamation appointing January 9, 2025, as a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States, he stated, “President Carter was a man of character, courage, and compassion, whose lifetime of service defined him as one of the most influential statesmen in our history. He embodied the very best of America: A humble servant of God and the people. A heroic champion of global peace and human rights, and an honorable leader whose moral clarity and hopeful vision lifted our Nation and changed our world.”STAT
Reflecting on his incredible legacy, UVI President Dr. Safiya George stated, “We have much to learn from President Carter’s remarkable life, his steadfast service to the people of our country, and his immense contributions to global health and humanity. A man of humble beginnings, who rose to the highest level of office in our country and earned a Nobel Peace Prize for his global humanitarian efforts, President Carter’s life reminds us of the potential that lives within us all to not only achieve our highest personal ambitions but also to look beyond ourselves for ways to uplift our communities and change the world for the better.”
President Carter began his career in public service in 1943 as a cadet in the United States Naval Academy before becoming a decorated lieutenant and serving in the Navy’s elite nuclear submarine program. He entered politics in the 1960s and was elected State Senator in his home state of Georgia in 1962 and 1964, became Georgia’s 76th Governor in 1970, and ultimately President of the United States from 1977 to 1981.
During his presidency, President Carter was best known as a champion of conservation and human rights, for promoting nuclear non-proliferation, signing the Panama Canal treaties, and mediating the historic 1978 Camp David Accords which led to a permanent peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.
Following his presidency, President Carter was devoted to public service alongside his wife, Rosalynn, through the Carter Center which they co-founded to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope” in nations around the world. He earned worldwide acclaim and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his relentless campaign for human rights and peace, and for fighting diseases such as Guinea worm disease which was virtually eradicated.
“As we mourn the loss of President Carter, let us be inspired by the legacy he leaves behind and the life of purpose that he led,” said Dr. George. “We join the world in saying farewell to an extraordinary American who has left us with invaluable lessons on what it means to be a citizen of the world.”
For more information, contact pr@uvi.edu.
