Faculty of Social Sciences

Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business and Management

Mrs. Sonia Mahon

Lecturer in Information Systems

Deputy Dean - Graduate Affairs, International and Global Affairs and Digital Transformation

Mrs. Sonia Mahon is a Lecturer in Computer Applications for Business and Management Information Systems at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business and Management. For most of her tenure she has held key administrative roles alongside her teaching responsibilities. She is the longest serving Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Social Sciences, which is the largest and most complex faculty at the Cave Hill Campus.  As Deputy Dean, she has been instrumental in driving course and programme development efforts to ensure that the faculty kept pace with the educational demands of incoming students and the businesses which employ them after graduation. 

However, Mrs. Mahon is best known for her ability to counsel students, espcially those experiencing academic or financial challenges. In view of this expertise, she was asked to lead the Student Enrollment and Retention Unit in academic year 2019-2020 to allow the Head of the Unit to take leave. Mrs. Mahon returned to the Faculty of Social Sciences in 2020 as Deputy Dean of Graduate Studies, Digital Transformation and Internationalisation. In this role, she focuses on the further enhancement of the faculty's graduate programmes, leads the ongoing digital transformation process, and works to strengthen links with regional and global government and business communities.  

Academic Qualifications

  • MSc. Information Technology/Information Systems,  Boston University (1995)
  • BSc. Computer Science, University of the West Indies (1991)

Professional Qualifications

  • Doctoral Courses in Leadership, University of Phoenix (2006) 

 

Undergraduate Courses

  • MGMT 1000 Introduction to Computers
  • MGMT 2005 – Microcomputer Applications for Business
  • MGMT 2006- Management Information Systems II
  • MGMT 3011 Management Information Systems II

Academic/Administrative Responsibilities

  • Deputy Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences  (2004 – 2019)
  • Deputy Dean – Graduate Affairs, International and Global Affairs and Digital Transformation ( 2020 – Present) 

Research Interests

  • Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
  • Information Technology in Higher Education 

Selected Refereed Publications

  • “Perceptions of information and communication technology among undergraduate management students in Barbados” International Journal of Education and Development using ICT, Vol2(4), 2006, Co-authored with Glenda Gay, Philmore Alleyne, Dwayne Devonish
  • “New Evaluation Form, ‘Same Old Attitude’? A Study of Perceptions of the Lecturer Evaluation Process” ; Journal of Eastern Caribbean Studies, Vol 30(2),  pp. 75-90,15 pages, June 2005 Co-authored with Jose-Ann Small
  • “Information Systems At FirstCaribbean: Choosing A Standard Operating Environment”; FirstCaribbean Bank Cross-Enterprise Case Series, The Ricahrd Ivey School of Business and the University of the West Indies; 12 pages, March 2005 (Co-authored with Louis Beaubien)

Non-refereed Publications 

  • “Students’ Attitudes Towards Information Technology” ; Conference Proceedings of First International Management Conference, Department of Management Students; 16 pages, March 2006; Co-authored with Glenda Gay, Philmore Alleyne, Dwayne Devonish
  •  “Study Guides for Distance Learning in CAPE Computer Science – Unit 1”  February 2004 Published by Commonwealth of Learning and Caribbean Examination Council (http://www.col.org/). Co-authored with Glenda Gay
  • Technical Papers (graduate programme Boston University)
    • "Client Server Technology in an Object Oriented Environment"; 10 pages, July 1995
  • "CASE Tools and Technologies"; 5 pages, March 1995

Selected Conferences 

  • Presentation of “You Expect Me To Teach, Research And Do What! Academic Advisor Preparation” NACADA International Conference, Sheffield UK, August 2017 (co-presented with Dr. Sylvia Henry)
  • Presentation of “Academic Advising: Warning – Bump in the Road. Let us help you over!” NACADA Conference, Atlanta GA, July 2016 (co-presented with Dr. Sylvia Henry)
  • Presentation for Teaching and Technology Symposium – 'Lessons from the Trenches', June 2014
  • Presentation of “Rocking the IT Boat”, Lessons in the Trenches, CETL Seminar Series June 2012
  • Presentation of “Trends in the Faculty of Social Sciences" – Cave Hill:
  • Implications for Strategic Plan” at Inter-Campus Faculty of Social Sciences Conference, February 28, 2008 
  • 'Managing Quality with Technology' 7th ACHEA Conference, Hilton, Barbados , July 3-5, 2007 (co-presented with Dr. Glenda Gay)
  • 'Perceptions of Information and Communication Technology' 1st International Management Conference, Barbados, 27 – 28 March, 2006 ( co-presented with Dr. Glenda Gay, Prof. Dwaye Devonish and Prof. Philmore Alleyne)

 

Areas of expertise

  • Academic Leadership
  • Academic Advisement
  • Management Information Systems

UWI Service (Selected Appointments)

  • 2018 – Present, Campus Student Orientation Planning Committee
  • 2018 – Present , Co-chair, Student System & Data Management Working Group of the SERU Strategic Planning Committee 
  • 2017–  Present , Member, UWI/BCC Articulation Committee 
  • 2017,  Co-Developer and Campus Trainer of the CETL course in Student Advising 
  • 2013 – Present,  Presenter on Student Advising in the Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (CUTL) programme for CETL 
  • 2017, Member UWI Outreach Team to St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • 2017– Present, Member, FSS Advisory Committee UNCW Summer Abroad Exchange Programme 
  • 2015 – Present, Chair Summer School Committee
  • 2015 – Present, Academic Board Sub-committee on Academic Advisement
  • 2012 – 2016, Chair Academic Quality Assurance Committee
  • 2007 – 2012: Faculty Representative, Academic Quality Assurance Committee
  • 2006 – Appointed to Campus Committee for Information Technology Audit
  • 2004 – 2019 – As Deputy Dean, was Faculty Representative on:
    1. Academic Board
    2. Campus Matriculation Committee
    3. Campus Committee on Examinations
    4. Committee for Undergraduate Awards
    5. Sub-Committee on Personal Matters – Staff/Students
    6. Student Disciplinary Committee
    7. Campus Committee for Information and Communication Technology
    8. Academic Board Sub-committee on Co-Curricular Credits

Public Service

  • Faculty Advisor, Circle K Club, 2000 –2004.  The Circle K Club was awarded the prize for the Best Service Club at Cave Hill in 2003.
  •  Member, Board of Management of the People's Cathedral Primary School  2006-2009