August 22, 2011 – Mandeville, Jamaica…Nigel Coke/IAD
Jamaican born educator and current president of the Adventist-owned University of the Southern Caribbean (USC) in Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Trevor Gardner, has been named president of Northern Caribbean University (NCU). His appointment was made during a meeting of the University’s Board of Governors yesterday at the headquarters of the Jamaica Union in Mandeville, Jamaica.
His appointment is with immediate effect, however, he will not fully assume the position until January 1, 2012, church leaders stated. Dr. Daniel Fider, who was appointed interim president in June this year, will work with Dr. Gardner to effect a smooth transition.
Dr. Gardner, who is no stranger to NCU and its vision, served as vice president for academic affairs during the institution’s transition from college to university. He was appointed president of the USC in 2004 where he spearheaded its transition from Caribbean Union College to university status in 2006. During the period of his leadership, USC has seen a more than threefold growth in its enrollment from 1,200 students to approximately 4,000.
“It is an honor to be considered in the line of the heritage of the great leaders who have led this university inclusive of the last president,” said Dr. Gardner. “This institution has crafted for itself through the years, a path that has been of tremendous value to people from around the world and in particular those in the Caribbean Basin. I anticipate that as we move into the future this legacy will continue. We have come to a time in our history when, however good your pathway has been it must be buttressed and supported by technology.”
Technology Driven Institution
“Among the things I bring to the institutional life,” Gardner added, is a vision of how technology will continue to advance the institution and through that advancement, allows the Nation and the Nations of the Caribbean to be participants in the global agenda for spiritual, economic and intellectual development to ensure that we reduce the attrition of intellectuals from the Caribbean.”
Gardner who holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration has more than forty years of experience in academia having served as lecturer, principal and administrator in several secondary and tertiary institutions in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. His last ten years have been in Seventh-day Adventist tertiary institutions in the Caribbean.
“The appointment of Dr. Trevor Gardner is a significant move, as NCU seeks to consolidate its position,” said Pastor Everett Brown, Chairman of the Board of Governors and president of the church in Jamaica. “I am confident that, with his experience as an administrator and his proven track record of success wherever he has served, including NCU, in Dr. Gardner we are getting a leader who is not only committed to excellence, but one who understands the role that NCU must plays in the development of the Church and the wider Caribbean. I believe his leadership will take NCU to the next higher level in achieving its mission.”
Visionary Leader
Dr. Eugene Daniel, who has worked directly with Dr. Gardner over the past six years in his previous position as chairman of the USC Board of Governors said Dr. Gardner “is a visionary leader who always keeps his focus on his vision. He is also a diligent and committed professional who has not only grown the university by way of enrollment, but also with new academic offerings and accreditation, and infrastructural development. He will be sadly missed by the USC family.”
The position of president of NCU became vacant on June 13, 2011, when Dr. Herbert Thompson retired to pursue personal interests.
Dr. Gardner is married to Dr. Patricia Gardner, a medical doctor, who currently serves as director of University Health Services at USC. Four adult children: Trevor II, twin sons, Keith and Kevann, and daughter Jayna. He is the author of three books and several manuals and manuscripts. During his leisure time he enjoys playing football and lawn tennis.
NCU is co-owned and co-operated by the Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (JAMU) and the Atlantic Caribbean Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists (ACUM), both of which came out of the reorganization of the former West Indies Union Conference on November 29, 2010.
