The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, on Wednesday formally renamed its School for Graduate Studies and Research Complex in honour of Emerita Professor The Most Honourable V. Eudine Barriteau.
The complex will now be known as the V Eudine Barritteau Complex. She is the first woman in the campus’ history to receive such recognition.
During the ceremony which was conducted in the presence of President of Barbados Dame Sandra Mason, university leaders, faculty and family members paid tribute to the former principal, whose career at UWI spanned decades and helped reshape graduate education, promote gender equity, and modernise campus systems.
Delivering the remarks, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal Professor Clive Landis praised Barriteau’s leadership between 2015 and 2021, a period he described as one of the most challenging in the institution’s history.
He pointed to financial instability, the COVID-19 pandemic, a hurricane, ashfall from the eruption of La Soufrière, and ongoing issues with student enrolment.
“Truly, Professor Barriteau showed great courage and unyielding leadership when the campus was so plagued by these most severe challenges that nature and economic circumstances could conjure up,” he said.
“Like the daughter of a seaman she was able to safely steer the ship through these many storms back into safe harbour.”
Landis described her as “uni-institutional,” a phrase he said captured the solidity, endurance and transformative impact she brought to the role of principal.
In her opening remarks, Professor Cynthia Barrow-Giles described the renaming as a historic act that preserved Barriteau’s legacy while inspiring future generations.
“This is not only a celebration of individual achievement. It is a collective affirmation that leadership is not bound by gender,” she said.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles also sang praises of the honoree calling her a “research legend”.
Others paying tribute included University Director of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies Dr Halimah DeShong; Dean of the Faculty of Culture Professor David Akombo; University Director Professor Don Marshall; and Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Permanent Mission of Barbados to the United Nations Mathew Wilson.
Her son, Cabral Barriteau-Foster, also delivered remarks calling her a constant source of strength.
“For House Barriteau, you are the standard bearer [and] today we celebrate our lighthouse,” he said.
The ceremony was also marked by several performances—creative tributes in the form of spoken word, music and dance.
Barriteau, who began her UWI career as a research assistant, held senior positions including director of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies, deputy principal, and principal of both the Open and Cave Hill Campuses.
She was instrumental in the development of the Graduate Studies Complex and later served as its campus coordinator.
In her response, she thanked Principal Landis and the senior management team for ensuring her service was recognised in “such a lasting manner.”
She also expressed joy that the ceremony had reunited her extended family and lifelong friends from Grenada, Barbados, Jamaica, the United States and the UK.
Reflecting on her role as campus coordinator, Barriteau said she believed Cave Hill had a duty to support original research and develop scholars who could offer solutions to the region’s problems.
“I wanted graduate students to understand that gaining a postgraduate degree was more than adding another qualification to their résumé,” she said.
“Our history, our people and our contemporary experiences offer such unusual intersections that untangling our challenges requires novel approaches.”
She credited her administrative team, led by Senior Assistant Registrar Gail Carter-Payne, for helping to streamline systems, improve thesis tracking, and remove barriers that frustrated students. She also thanked Angela Kellman, Anita Kinch, Faye Williams and Deborah Deane for their support throughout her time in graduate studies and gender development.
Barriteau acknowledged former Principal Sir Hilary Beckles and then Registrar Jacqueline Wade for advancing the vision of a dedicated graduate school and backing her proposals to expand staffing and reform processes.
“I did my best to serve the students, faculty, Barbados, the campus and the region,” she said.
“On behalf of myself and my family, I thank the UWI, and Cave Hill in particular, for this honour.” (SM)
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