An accomplished Bahamian educator has been appointed a dean at a prestigious Massachusetts tertiary institution.
Former Vice-President for Research, Graduate Programmes and International Relations at The College of The Bahamas (COB), Dr. Linda Davis was recently chosen to become dean at the Center for International Programs and Partnerships, at Wheelock College, Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Davis began her tenure as associate professor and interim director of the Center for International Education, Leadership and Innovation at Wheelock.
Dr. Davis says she is excited by the possibilities that this new post presents.
“The new and expanded exposure and responsibility bring the practice of internationalisation full circle for me – embracing the local and national, the global and international in an evolving and dynamic context,” she said.
Before going to Wheelock in 2010, she took a year-long sabbatical in North America and West Africa as part of her continuing study of the nature of international partnerships and their dynamics.
Dr. Davis began her career as a high school teacher before joining COB’s faculty in 1987.
While at COB she also served in various administrative roles, including vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of Professional Studies, before taking on her last position in 2006, in which she worked to increase research activity and accessibility to graduate degrees as well as to expand the international opportunities available to the institution’s students, faculty, and staff.
Dr. Davis assumed her post at Wheelock bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in research administration, international partnerships, and curriculum design.
She is currently working closely with Wheelock’s Boston and Singapore-based operations along with other potential global partners in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, Wheelock’s international students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as the Center for International Programs and Partnerships drives Wheelock’s internationalisation efforts.
Dr. Davis received her BA and teaching certification in English with a minor concentration in Political Science from the College of Saint Benedict (Minnesota), her MEd in Psycho pedagogy from the University of Ottawa and her PhD in Social and Educational Studies from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada).
Wheelock College is a four-year institution founded in 1888 with undergraduate programmes in the arts and sciences and human services professions, and graduate programmes in the professions.
It was one of just 10 higher education institutions in the US lauded for its strong student teaching program in a new report released by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ, 2011).
Earlier this year, US President Barack Obama placed Wheelock College on the 2012 Higher Education Community Service honor roll, with distinction.
The college was awarded for its commitment to community service and civic engagement.
Wheelock is among 110 national colleges, including six Massachusetts colleges, named with the honor roll with distinction award.
This is the second year that Wheelock has been placed on the honor roll and the first time it has been recognised on the honor roll with distinction.
The college will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2013.
