GUYANA-born Professor Nigel Harris, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, has been appointed to serve as the ninth Chancellor of the University of Guyana, effective August 26. He succeeds another Guyanese, Dr Compton Bourne, who served from 2009 to 2012.In commenting on his new appointment, Professor Harris said, “I welcome this opportunity to work with the leaders, staff and students of the University of Guyana community, as well as with government and other stakeholders to forge the growth and success of this institution so critical to the economic, social and cultural development of Guyana and the Caribbean.”

Professor Harris has held many leadership positions, including his most recent post as Vice-Chancellor of the University of West Indies (October 1, 2004 to April 30, 2015); President of the Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes (UNICA)from 2012 to 2015, and Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities for a two-year term (2011-2013). He is internationally known for his work as a Rheumatologist.

He graduated with a BSc in chemistry from Howard University (1968), then proceeded to Yale University, where he earned his Master’s in Biochemistry (1973).  He obtained his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania (1977), following which he returned to the Caribbean to complete his residency in internal medicine at the University of the West Indies at Mona. He was subsequently awarded the post-graduate degree, Doctor of Medicine (DM) in 1981.

Professor Harris has also acquired many notable awards including the Cacique Crown of Honour from Guyana in 2011, the Martin Luther King International Award that was received in Washington DC in 2010. And the 11th Congressional District of the USA declared February 11, 2015, the “Eon Nigel Harris Day” in recognition of his contributions to Medical Research.

Chancellor Harris is married to Dr C. Yvette Williams-Harris, a general internist; they have three children and five grandchildren.