The University of Guyana (UG) has initiated a comprehensive international search for a new Vice Chancellor as Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin prepares to conclude her groundbreaking six-year tenure. The institution’s first female Vice Chancellor, appointed in June 2020, has publicly endorsed the recruitment process while encouraging qualified candidates to apply for the position.
UG’s governing Council has established April 17, 2026, as the application deadline, seeking a transformational academic leader capable of positioning the university as a center of research excellence and regional influence. The advertisement emphasizes the need for someone who can navigate Guyana’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, characterized by unprecedented energy production growth, infrastructure modernization, and increasing global engagement.
The ideal candidate should possess experience within Caribbean regional contexts or developing country environments, though distinguished international academics are also encouraged to apply. The incoming Vice Chancellor will be expected to strengthen governance clarity, enhance accountability, and support strategic reforms aligned with the university’s statutory mandate.
Professor Mohamed-Martin’s departure follows recent high-level appointments at UG, including Dr. Randy Persaud as Pro-Chancellor and Guyana-born diplomat Sir Ronald Sanders as Chancellor. Her distinguished 19-year career at the institution included serving as Chair of the Transitional Management Committee, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement, and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The university emphasizes its critical role in supporting Guyana’s economic transformation through advanced human capital development, expanded research capacity, and strengthened innovation ecosystems. This leadership transition occurs during one of the most dynamic periods of economic growth and structural transformation in the Caribbean and Latin American region.