Strachan Appointed UB Executive Vice President

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The University of The Bahamas has appointed Dr. Ian Strachan as Executive Vice President.

His appointment comes days after Dr. Erik Rolland, a high-ranking official at California Polytechnic and State University, was appointed as the University’s next president.

Jared Higgs tells us more.

Dr. Strachan, who will retain his position as president of UB’s Northern campus, was a finalist for the president’s post, sparking backlash from the Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas (UTEB) as well as some members of the public, who thought a Bahamian should be appointed.

Chair of UB’s Board of Trustees Allyson Maynard Gibson was asked whether Strachan was appointed to the executive vice president’s post due to the uproar over Rolland’s appointment.

UTEB also released a statement, praising the decision to appoint Strachan.

It read in part: “UTEB looks forward to EVP Dr. Strachan engagement in the leadership team of the incoming president, and expects his institutional knowledge will enhance national development and bring speedy redress to the plethora of outstanding labour issues, including the outstanding remuneration and benefits of faculty.

UTEB expects these matters will be addressed before the arrival of the new president in August 2022.”

Meanwhile, Strachan, a graduate of the institution and respected member of the fine arts community, gave brief remarks at the ceremony that only lasted 35 seconds. In those comments, he focused on his role in Grand Bahama.

Strachan takes up his new post starting April 1st, while Rolland will start in August.

Minister of Education Glenys Hanna Martin acknowledged the autonomy of UB’s board in making its decisions, but said she hoped a Bahamian would be president of the university, “In short order”.