The University of the West Indies (UWI) has confirmed Professor Densil A. Williams as the new principal of its Mona campus in Jamaica.

Professor Williams is an economist, a professor of international business, and currently serves as principal of the Five Islands campus in Antigua and Barbuda but will now move to UWI’s largest and oldest campus Mona.

He will start working as principal on August 1 and replaces marine biologist Professor, Dale Webber who opted not to seek a renewal of his five-year contract and will return to lecturing at the Mona campus. 

An 11-member selection committee, of which the Education Minister, Fayval Williams was a member, voted overwhelmingly on April 13 for Professor Williams, one of four candidates shortlisted for the post.

Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles then recommended Densil Williams to the University Council, the institution’s highest governing body. The other candidates were climate scientist Professor Michael Taylor, dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology; Professor Lloyd Waller, the executive director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre and an advisor to Jamaica’s tourism minister; and Professor Agnis Stibe. 

Densil Williams reportedly received at least eight votes, followed by Waller who got two, with one going to Taylor.

In the meantime, Professor Densil A. Williams takes over as principal on Jamaica’s Emancipation Day, August 1.