The Antigua Chapter of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus Guild of Students has officially announced its new executive leadership team for the 2026/2027 academic year, marking a fresh chapter of student-centered advocacy and support for the island nation’s distance learning community.
As the UWI system’s dedicated online learning arm, the UWI Global Campus fills a critical gap in Caribbean higher education. Designed to remove barriers to academic advancement for working adults, the campus serves a diverse student population spread across 16 Caribbean countries, enabling learners to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees while remaining rooted in their jobs, families and local communities. For this non-traditional student body that balances multiple life responsibilities alongside their studies, the Guild of Students plays an indispensable role: amplifying student voices, addressing unmet needs, and building a supportive community for distance learners. The newly seated Antigua Chapter executive team has made supporting this unique student demographic its core mission.
Profiles of the 2026/2027 Executive Team
The new leadership slate brings together a diverse group of student leaders committed to serving Antigua’s UWI Global Campus community:
– Makiba Ward, Chapter Chair: Tasked with steering the chapter’s overall strategic direction, coordinating cross-team work across the executive committee, and serving as the official representative for Antigua’s students at both the institutional and regional levels. Ward additionally takes on an expanded regional role, serving as Vice President for Administration, Sites and Services on the UWI Global Campus Regional Guild of Students. This dual appointment gives students from Antigua and Barbuda direct, elevated input into regional-level decision making for the campus.
– Samantha Wallace, Vice Chapter Chair: Supports the Chair in all core responsibilities and takes ownership of overseeing daily chapter operations and ensuring long-term organizational continuity amid leadership transitions.
– Liane Daniel, Secretary: Responsible for maintaining all official chapter records, managing internal and external communications for the organization, and ensuring transparency around the chapter’s activities.
– Kimberly Thomas-Lawrence, Treasurer: Oversees all of the chapter’s financial activities, including budgeting, expenditure tracking, and formal financial reporting to ensure full accountability for all student funds.
– Kellonda Burke-Lawrence, Academic Student Representative: Serves as the key liaison between Antigua students and campus and guild leadership, elevating academic concerns and driving forward initiatives designed to boost student academic success.
– Gabrielle Dryden, Postgraduate Representative: Focuses exclusively on advocating for the unique interests and needs of postgraduate students within the Antigua chapter.
– Anizia Vigo, Committee Liaison Officer: Acts as a bridge between the executive committee and sub-committees, streamlining information sharing and ensuring all planned student activities are executed smoothly.
The Antigua Chapter maintains a close collaborative partnership with Coleen Letlow, Head of Site for UWI Global Campus Antigua and Barbuda. Leadership notes that Letlow’s ongoing support has been foundational to delivering a positive, accessible student experience at the local site.
Looking ahead to the 2026/2027 academic year, the chapter’s first major public event is scheduled for November 15, 2026: a combined Honour Roll Ceremony and Executive Induction. The dual-purpose event will recognize high-achieving students who earned top marks across the first and second semesters of the 2025/2026 academic year, celebrating the hard work of learners who excel academically while balancing work, family and community commitments. Following the honoree recognitions, the ceremony will formally swear in the 2026/2027 executive team, kicking off their term of service. Under the leadership of this new team, the chapter reaffirms its commitment to lifting up student voices and delivering tangible support: “Together We Can Make It Happen.”