News Releases

Emeritus Professor Selwyn Ryan’s Legacy Magnified and Celebrated in a Tribute Anthology

For Release Upon Receipt - November 3, 2023

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. November 3, 2023. — The adage that "the true test of a man's character is how he stands in times of challenge and controversy" profoundly encapsulates the essence of the late Emeritus Professor Selwyn Ryan. A titan in Caribbean political thought and academic discourse, Professor Ryan's intellectual contributions have carved an indelible legacy. 

Thus, it was a fitting homage when, on Friday, September 29, 2023, a commemorative volume celebrating his life's work was unveiled at The Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) at The UWI St. Augustine Campus. Over 40 esteemed colleagues, friends, and mentees, whose lives were touched by Professor Ryan's wisdom, shared their reflections. These heartfelt narratives, curated by Dr. Godfrey St. Bernard, the former Acting Director of SALISES, St. Augustine, were bound into a volume that stands as a testament to a remarkable journey of influence and inspiration. 

Entitled, "Remembering Selwyn Ryan – Tributes from Colleagues and Friends," the heartfelt tributes coalesced into a vivid story offering a deeply personal glimpse into Professor Ryan's life and character. Through the accounts, readers encounter the essence of a man who was not only a distinguished scholar but also fun-loving, sociable, and profoundly dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. His remarkable career, characterized by exceptional insights and dedicated service, has left an indelible mark within The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and in various public roles long after his passing in March 2022. 

This book aims to immortalize Professor Ryan and his ideas, providing valuable insights into his life, work, and legacy. It is intended for readers of all age groups and can be especially beneficial for youth in secondary and tertiary education programmes, offering lessons from Professor Ryan's spirited life. Professor Selwyn Ryan, an iconic figure had a remarkable career spanning several decades, both within the university and in various public roles. 

During the 1960s and 1970s, he served as a lecturer and Head of the Department of Government at The University. In the early 1980s, he took on national roles, including Chairman of the Regulated Industries Commission. However, he returned to The UWI in 1986, where he was appointed as the Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) on the St. Augustine Campus. 

A significant milestone in his career was the merger of ISER and the Consortium School of Graduate Studies and Research in 1999, leading to the establishment of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES). Professor Ryan became the first Director of SALISES and also served as the University Director of SALISES Regional, overseeing branches at the Mona, Cave Hill, and St. Augustine Campuses. 

As a scholar, Professor Ryan authored or edited over 25 books on various topics, including race and nationalism, governance in the Caribbean, and the Black Power Revolution in Trinidad and Tobago. He was also known for his work as a newspaper pollster, a weekly columnist, and for providing keen political insights based on extensive research. 

This tribute anthology of the Caribbean's beacon of political insight is available for purchase at leading bookstores. 

END

About The University of the West Indies 

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years. 

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, LatinAmerica, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world. 

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action. 

2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University. 

Learn more at www.uwi.edu  

 

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