Dr. Safiya George UVI President

Following an extensive Presidential selection process, Dr. Safiya George, PhD, became the 6th President of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). 

Dr. George is a proud alumna of the university and was a student athlete during her time at UVI. Dr. George succeeds Dr. David Hall who served the University with distinction since 2009. 

Dr. George has received numerous awards, including most recently the Distinguished Alumni Award from Emory University. She is a Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Dr. George previously served as Dean for research and Associate Professor at the University of Alabama and as Assistant Professor along with other leadership roles at Emory University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Religion and Health/Theology and Medicine at Duke University, and her Master’s and PhD at Emory University. Originally from the Virgin Islands, she earned her Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees at UVI.      

Expressing her enthusiasm for the appointment, Dr. George stated, “Becoming a President has been a long standing dream and goal for many reasons, including my love for interdisciplinary engagement and my keen ability to foster collaboration and productivity among scholars, students, staff, and others from different disciplines,” she continued. “As a servant leader, I am confident I will be an effective President for the University of the Virgin Islands and will remain humble and grounded with a sincere desire to improve outcomes and the lives of students, faculty, staff, and the community.” 

With over a decade of academic and executive level organizational leadership experience, Dr. George has a proven track record of advancing academic success, research, innovation and efficiency in higher education. As the current Dean of Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Dr. George oversees 1,400 students and programs on three campuses. She has successfully led the college’s two nurse-led health centers, including the Memory and Wellness Center and the Federally Qualified Health Center Look-A-Like Community Health Center. Under her leadership, the college has thrived as an international leader in advancing caring science. 

“This season of commencement reminded us that each of us has the power to leave a lasting imprint on the world. Whether in our classrooms, laboratories, offices, communities, or on the commencement stage, we make our mark through the lives we touch, the opportunities we create, and the excellence we pursue every day. Our graduates now join a growing community of UVI alumni whose contributions will shape the future of the Virgin Islands and beyond."

-Dr. Safiya George, President, University of the Virgin Islands

June 2026 Commencement Ceremony