2023 Executive Council Elections

Rhoda Arrindell

I was born in Curacao and raised in St. Martin, a Caribbean territory colonized by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of France.

In 1985, I began my university studies at the University of Miami and later transferred to Syracuse University, graduating in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics. That year, I returned home and began teaching at the newly established University of St. Martin, under the Johnson and Wales University umbrella.

In 1996, I obtained a pre-law diploma (propaedeuse) from the University of the Netherlands Antilles in Curacao. In 2005, I obtained a master of arts in education administration from the University of the Virgin Islands and went on to graduate from the University of Puerto Rico in 2011 with a doctorate in English, specializing in Caribbean languages (aka “creoles”).

From 2010 – 2012, I served as St. Martin’s first Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, and Youth Affairs in the UP/DP coalition government. Since leaving office, I have served as project manager for a number of agencies (National Institute for Professional Advancement; Justice Academy; Government’s Law Committee) and professor at the University of The Bahamas.

Today I continue to work as an education consultant, and I’m the owner/operator of the Source of Inspiration and Learning (SoIL) book café, with a training academy that caters specifically to the underserved community.

My “groundbreaking” book Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin was published in 2014, and I am working on my second book on education.

Dwight Elliott

Dwight Elliott is a Professor of Law, Technology and Business within the Academic industry. Prof. Elliott has served numerous universities in the academic sector over the last 20 years and has an extensive business development background in the IT, Telecommunications and Cybersecurity arena. He has also served in various roles within academia, including: Campus Dean, Course & Curriculum Developer, and Faculty Mentor. Prof. Elliott is a dedicated member of the Jamaica Diaspora Movement and has participated in JA diaspora development activities for the last 10 years. He was a presenter at the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference 2017 in Kingston, Jamaica on the topic of “ICT, Digitization and the Future of Work: Every Mus Wuk in the Digital Era”

Prof. Elliott holds a Juris Doctor of Law (JD) from the University of Maryland School of Law, with areas of concentration in Internet & E-commerce Law, Telecommunications Law, Intellectual Property, Contract Law, Mediation, Negotiation & Settlement, Conflict Resolution, Employment and Labor Relations Law. He also obtained a Masters degree in Telecommunications & Network Management and a Bachelors degree in Information Management & Technology from Syracuse University (MS, 1996, BS, 1994)

Prof. Elliott is a highly skilled professional with over 15 years’ experience in the corporate sector. Having successfully worked with numerous corporations throughout the United States (including GE, Lockheed Martin, Telcordia Technologies and SAIC). He has a proven background in the areas of IT leadership and change management, technology management, cybersecurity, and training and development. Prof. Elliott has served as a Mediator for individuals seeking to resolve complex business disputes that involve IT, E-commerce, and various integrated legal, business and technology related problems.

Kristina Hinds

Kristina Hinds is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science and Head of the Department of Government, Sociology, Social Work and Psychology at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus. Dr. Hinds was sworn into the Senate of Barbados as an Independent Senator in April 2022. She holds a PhD in International Relations (LSE), an MA in International Relations (University of Kent), a PGDip in University Teaching and Learning (UWI) and a BA in International Development Studies (St. Mary’s University). She has published a book, Civil Society Organisations, Governance and the Caribbean Community; journal articles; and book chapters on a variety of topics relating to Caribbean governance and International Relations/Political Economy. Hinds has served extensively within the International Studies Association since 2015 and will serve as a vice president effective March 2023. She worked as the Caribbean Studies Association’s Programme Chair (2019-2021) and currently serves on its executive. Hinds is a host of “Down to Brass Tacks”, a Barbadian current affairs radio show; has contributed newspaper columns and social and political analyses for media across the Caribbean; has represented Barbados as national Field Hockey Goalkeeper; has served as the Female Vice-President of the Barbados Hockey Federation (2016-2018); and in advisory and executive positions for other local non-governmental organisations.

Rita Keresztesi

I am Professor of English at the University of Oklahoma. I received my Ph.D. in Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1999. My research and teaching focus on Caribbean, African American and African literary and cultural studies. I was a Fulbright U.S. Scholar at l’Université Ouaga 1 Professeur Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 2010-2011. I am the author of the books Literary Black Power in the Caribbean: Fiction, Music and Film (Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, 2021);and of Strangers at Home: American Ethnic Modernism between the World Wars (Nebraska University Press 2005/2009); and the co-editor (with Ellie Higgins and Dayna Oscherwitz) of the book The Western in the Global South (Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, 2015). My recent publications focus on West African cinema and music and on Afro-Caribbean literature and culture.

Geneve Philip-Durham

Dr. Genève Phillip-Durham is the Principal Consultant of REACH Global; a Caribbean-based research, education, and career consulting firm. She holds a Bsc. in Public Sector Management, Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations, Msc. in Global Studies, and PhD. in International Relations. Over the past ten (10) years, Genève has served in management and leadership roles both regionally and internationally, inter alia; as Administrative Manager at the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, the Dean of Academics at the University of St. Martin and the Supervisory Committee of Eastern Credit Union. She is currently the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University College of Cayman Islands. Genève also serves as an Academic Board Member of the Accreditation Agency of Curaçao, the Book Reviews Editor for the Island Studies Journal- an international peer reviewed journal, and Secretary of the Board of Directors for Solar Head of State- an international NGO which focuses on sustainability and renewable energy.

Genève has a keen interest in contributing to the political economy of development, specifically in Caribbean small island states and non-independent territories and as such, much of her academic work focuses on generating indigenous and innovative policy solutions for island-nominated challenges. She has published peer reviewed articles and book chapters on topics such as; capacity and institution building, policy practice, good governance, diversification and resilience, and has presented her academic research at several Conferences throughout the Caribbean, North America and Europe.

Maya I. Freeman

Maya I. Freeman is a researcher, health/wellness educator, creative artist, photojournalist, and mother. Freeman is a graduate student in the Goddard Graduate Institute of Goddard College. Freeman has remained committed to successfully completing her Ph. D. in Sociology. Freeman’s research and interdisciplinary studies in Caribbean/Indigenous Global History, Global/African Diasporan Studies, Global Social History, Hybrid Cultural Studies, and related areas inclusive of Intersectional Studies of the Caribbean and wider Americas. Freeman completed her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology- Cum Laude at City University of New York- Hunter College. Freeman attended the University of the Virgin Islands- Orville Kean Campus in St. Thomas from 2014-2016 attending CUNY-Hunter College. Freeman remains engaged in community service organizations, social media marketing, graphic design development, and creative arts consultant projects.

Regan Reid

Regan Reid is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Juvenile Justice program at the Prairie View A&M University in Texas, United States. She is also a graduate assistant working under the supervision of Camille Gibson (PhD) and is involved in collaborative projects with the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Centre and the Campbell Collaboration. Her current research interests include child-rearing and family processes in Jamaica, youth behavioural health, mental health, bullying behavior, juvenile justice policy analysis and management, economic development, sustainability risks, and opportunities.

Regan earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science (major) and Criminology (minor) and a master’s degree in International Public and Development Management from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica. For her M.Sc. research, Regan wanted to better understand the (consumer) debt culture among emerging adults and its implications for sustainability, specifically in a developing country (Jamaica). She received an outstanding final research paper (2018-2019) award from the University of the West Indies, Mona, for that research.

In the past three years, Regan has worked as a teaching and graduate research assistant for the Public and Policy Management Unit in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies. She taught Criminology, International Relations, Public Policy and Management, and Political Science at the undergraduate levels. She also worked as an assistant lecturer in International Perspectives on Regulations and Regulatory Reform at the graduate level before being contracted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (Jamaica) as an administrative research specialist to produce a draft white paper around the national health infrastructure.

Regan is a former postgraduate representative and faculty representative of the Society of Future Policy Leaders, UWI Mona. She also volunteered with and was appointed as the chair of the policy and advocacy unit, Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (CYPAN). Today she serves as a global peace ambassador with the Global Peace Chain (Non-profit Organization).