Heartfelt Congratulations go out to our very own FST Staff - Dr. Henri Vallès, Ms. Lisa-Ann Rollins and Mr. Devon Slater on their well-deserved recognition at The UWI Staff Awards Ceremony!
 
Dedication, innovation and a steadfast commitment to advancing the university’s mission were recognized once again as seven faculty and staff of The UWI Cave Hill Campus (including our very own FST Staff - Dr. Vallès, Ms. Rollins and Mr. Slater) received the 2023 Principal’s Award for Excellence. This year’s recipients were selected for their outstanding service to the University or wider community during the Annual Retirees and Long Service Awards Ceremony held on November 18, 2023. See the below photos provided from the ceremony:


From Left to Right: Dr. Henri Vallès, Mrs. Tanya Martelly, Dr. Mahalia Jackman, Dr. Nadini Persaud, Ms. Lisa-Ann Rollins, Dr. Heather Harewood and Mr. Devon Slater

Dr. Henri Vallès received the award for Outstanding Research Accomplishment (Academic); while Ms Lisa-Ann Rollins of the Office of the Dean of Faculty of Science and Technology and Mr. Devon Slater, general worker assigned to the Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences were awarded in the Administrative, Technical and Service Staff (ATS) category.


In Photo:  Dr. Henri Vallès accepting his Principal's Award for Excellence prize from the Pro-Vice Chancellor & Principal - Professor Clive Landis 
 
Dr. Henri Vallès was hailed during the ceremony for his work which continues to put The UWI on the map for excellent marine research across a very broad range of topics highly applicable to Barbados and the wider Caribbean. His areas of expertise include: Management and Innovation in Small-scale Fisheries; Marine and Coastal Biodiversity. He also has a strong interest in terrestrial biodiversity and in the promotion and recognition of Caribbean scientists. He has published widely with some 34 papers in highly regarded international peer-reviewed journals and books.
 
As one of the two recipients in the Administrative, Technical and Service Staff category for excellence, Ms. Lisa-Ann Rollins was heralded for her positive attitude, robust work ethic, and her eagerness to contribute to the success of both the Faculty of Science and Technology and the campus. Ms. Rollins took up the role of Administrative Assistant (Projects and Planning) in the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) in 2017, after decades of previous experience in both CERMES and the Maintenance Department. Her expertise spans various domains, with notable accomplishments in project management, event planning, and website and social media management. In the realm of Project Management, Ms. Rollins consistently demonstrates exceptional skills, navigating complex tasks with precision. Her meticulous attention to detail, strategic thinking, and effective communication have been pivotal in executing numerous successful events within the faculty. However, event planning is where Lisa-Ann's natural talent shines. Whether orchestrating large-scale conferences, workshops, or intimate gatherings, she approaches each event with meticulous planning and an unwavering commitment to detail.


In Photo:  Ms. Lisa-Ann Rollins after accepting her Principal's Award for Excellence prize from the Pro-Vice Chancellor & Principal - Professor Clive Landis
 
Mr. Devon Slater was recognized by many colleagues and students as one who was always destined to rise to the top through a combination of hard work, curiosity, pride and willingness to serve. The talented worker often goes beyond the call of his gardening duties. He teaches practical skills to students so that they can achieve success in their experiments. Relatedly, Devon is also a master grower of pineapples and passes on plant cultivation/growth concepts to the youth through workshops and visits to his farm by St. Silas Primary and St. Leonards Boys Secondary Schools, which were highlighted in the media.


In Photo:  Mr. Devon Slater accepting his Principal's Award for Excellence prize from the Pro-Vice Chancellor & Principal - Professor Clive Landis
 
Devon is an integral part of the department’s ‘Rent-a-Plant’ initiative which seeks to generate income. He was also instrumental in the establishment of a bioreactor in the department which supported the ‘Grass-to-Gas’ project, generating biogas from the grass clippings on campus thereby reducing the cost of LPG by using the biogas to power the Bunsen Burners in the biology laboratories. In addition, Devon took responsibility of caring for imported lab rats, ensuring that they received adequate food and water and that their cages were cleaned allowing a medical graduate student to successfully complete her experimental work. He was hailed as a colleague who has made the most of what was given to him and always looked to better himself and those around him – staff and especially the students.
 
Congratulations once again to Dr. Vallès, Ms. Rollins and Mr. Slater on their outstanding career achievement and this well-deserved recognition. May this be just one of many more milestones to come in their distinguished careers.