The University of the West Indies has appointed Dodridge D. Miller, as its seventh chancellor, effectively becoming the highest office-holder in the regional UWI system. 

Now formally chancellor-designate, Dr Miller is expected to serve a seven-year term beginning August 1—succeeding outgoing chancellor Robert Bermudez, who has served since 2017.

At its virtual annual business meeting held last Friday (April 26), members of the UWI University Council accepted the recommendation of the chancellor’s search committee to appoint Miller.

As the sole authority that has the power to make decisions related to the leadership of the Caribbean higher educational institution, the university council is responsible for appointing the new chancellor in accordance with established statutes and processes outlined in the university’s Statute 4.

Miller, a UWI graduate, is a Caribbean luminary with over 30 years of leadership experience in the banking, insurance, and financial services sectors. He was the group president and CEO of Sagicor Financial Company for more than two decades until he retired in March 2023. 

Dr Miller is globally recognised as the chief architect of Sagicor Financial, the largest financial services conglomerate in the region.

He is credited with transforming the old Barbados Mutual Life Assurance Society into the Sagicor Caribbean group, and with strategic USA and Canadian investments, into the global corporation it is today. As a determined regionalist, he expanded Sagicor’s operations in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, and the Bahamas, and created a pan-Caribbean identity for the company. 

Dr Miller is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA). He holds an MBA from the University of Wales and the Manchester Business School, and an LL.M. in Corporate and Commercial Law from The UWI, where he also served as a member of the Cave Hill Campus Council.

He has received several prestigious honours in his distinguished career, including the Order of Freedom of Barbados (FB), and from UWI, an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2008 and the award of the tittle, Professor of Practice in 2019.

Upon the confirmation of his appointment, Dr Miller responded, “It is with great humility that I accept your appointment as chancellor of this distinguished and important university. For most of my adult life, I have been an advocate for a strong, vibrant UWI. As a corporate executive, I demonstrated my support for your mission and remained committed to the certainty of your path as you sought to build the capacity of the region’s human capital. As Chancellor, I will strive to uphold the strong principles and values of the University, and with your guidance and support hope to contribute to the very important task of fashioning a Caribbean that is sustainable and that can engage the rest of the world on equal terms. I look forward to being a part of The UWI’s journey towards the continued development of our region. I am honoured.”

In extending congratulations, Chancellor Bermudez said, “I am delighted to welcome Dr Miller as Chancellor-Designate. It is my belief that the university will benefit from his experience and contribution.”

Offering further details on the process, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who chaired the Search Committee that recommended Dr Miller for the post noted, “Dr Dodridge Miller is an eminent corporate transformational leader who possesses all the required skills to make an outstanding chancellor to his alma mater. The university community that knows him well is looking forward to working with him in this new role.”

At the council meeting, Bermudez delivered the opening remarks to commence the proceedings. University registrar Dr Maurice Smith then paid tribute to the outgoing chancellor or his outstanding leadership.

The UWI community expressed its profound appreciation to Bermudez for his distinguished service.