Dr. Safiya George Becomes UVI’s First Graduate to Serve as University President

The inauguration of the sixth president of the University of the Virgin Islands was a historic occasion, as for the first time, a graduate of the university sits as its leader.

“I consider this my labor of love – lots of labor, and lots and lots of love,” Dr. Safiya George said, as she began her remarks after she was officially robed as president.

George takes the helm at a critical moment for higher education across the country, according to Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, calling it “a strained and uncertain moment.” Pointing the gathered audience to events playing out on the national stage, Plaskett noted that “universities are now questioned and threatened with withholding resources and succor, assistance and support in times of hardship and distress.”

The Trump administration is threatening to withhold or stop funding to some universities primarily due to allegations of failing to address antisemitism and discrimination on campus, as well as broader policy disagreements. In early 2025, the administration targeted institutions like Columbia University, canceling approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts. This action was justified by claims that Columbia did not adequately protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment during protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict in the previous year. The move was part of a larger effort involving multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Education and a Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, which cited violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. This law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin at institutions receiving federal funds, and the administration has interpreted it to include antisemitic incidents tied to national origin.