CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) celebrated a significant milestone, awarding certificates to 41 graduates of its nationally accredited Certified Public Manager™ (CPM) program.
In-person ceremonies were held on July 23 at UVI’s Albert A. Sheen Campus in St. Croix and on July 24 at the Orville E. Kean Campus in St. Thomas. Twenty-four students in the St. Thomas/St. John district and 17 students in the St. Croix district completed the comprehensive program. The class, representing the sixth cohort of the program, included managers from a wide array of government departments and agencies.
The St. Thomas graduates
Suzanne Darrow-Magras, director of the UVI Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning (UVI CELL), Latashia Edwards, CELL Community Engagement manager, and Chinue Uecker, CPM Program manager, moderated the events.
Charging the graduates with a powerful message, Magras urged them to “embody and uphold the core values of the Virgin Islands Certified Public Manager Program: professionalism, service above self, principled leadership, respect and tolerance for others, teamwork, collegiality, and inclusiveness of ideas.”
“The success of this program and its graduates represents a significant step forward in developing strong, ethical, and effective public sector leadership in the U.S. Virgin Islands,” she said.
Guest speakers included then UVI President David Hall, and director Cindy Richardson from the Division of Personnel. Though not able to attend in person, Governor Albert Bryan extended his congratulations to the CPM graduates.
Graduates showcased their growth and learning through group presentations and reflections, highlighting the program’s impact on their professional development. The St. Croix District group project focused on enhancing organizational excellence within the public and private sectors. The St. Thomas/St. John District group project focused on the creation of the Virgin Islands Division of Renewable Energy (DRE).
The graduations drew a diverse audience, including representatives from various Government of the Virgin Islands departments and the graduates’ friends, families, and loved ones. The broad attendance underscored the program’s significance in preparing managers for impactful careers in federal, state, and local government and organizations with a public purpose.
A notable highlight of the ceremony was Attorney Genevieve Whitaker’s address to the St. Croix District graduating class, announcing the launch of the CPM Alumni Association and detailing plans for an upcoming in-person meeting. The initiative promises to provide ongoing support and networking opportunities for CPM graduates.
Director Richardson offered heartfelt congratulations to the students and emphasized the importance of implementing their individual projects to drive positive change and demonstrate a return on investment within their respective agencies.
Among the graduates were professionals from the Department of Education, the Department of Human Services, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Office of the Governor, the Department of Labor, the V.I. Housing Finance Authority, and several others.