The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) has appointed new leaders in academic affairs, finance, innovation and administration—strengthening its commitment to academic excellence, operational efficiency and innovation in higher education. These appointments position UVI to better serve students and the Virgin Islands community.
“These appointments represent a bold step forward for UVI,” said President Dr. Safiya George. “Each leader brings unique strengths that will help us deliver on our mission to be a student-centered university driving innovation, research and economic development.”
Dr. Lora Bailey Named Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Lora Bailey has been appointed Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs,
serving as UVI’s chief academic officer with oversight of six schools and colleges,
enrollment management and athletics. Since joining in July 2025, she has begun to
guide academic strategy, strengthen research and advance quality and innovation across
the University.
With more than 25 years of higher education leadership at Virginia State University, Indiana University Northwest and Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Bailey has secured over $7 million in external funding and successfully led national accreditation processes at other institutions. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, an M.A. in Teaching and a B.S. in Business Finance, all from Auburn University.
“Dr. Bailey’s experience in academic leadership and federal research funding will strengthen UVI’s programs and expand opportunities for students and faculty,” said Dr. George.
Guadalupe Valencia Named Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance & CFO
Guadalupe “Lupe” Valencia has been appointed Interim Vice President for Administration
and Finance & Chief Financial Officer. She brings extensive experience in university
financial operations, including roles at The University of Texas at El Paso, the Texas
Tech Health Sciences Center at El Paso, the University of Washington, the University
of Arizona and the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Valencia is a Past President of the Western Association of College and University Business Officers (WACUBO) and also served on the board of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from The University of Texas at El Paso and is a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM).
Dr. Nelson Pizarro Promoted to Assistant Vice President for Entrepreneurship & Economic Development
Dr. Nelson Pizarro has been promoted to Kiril Sokoloff Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Assistant Vice President for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. In this expanded role, he leads efforts to attract business partnerships, build public-private collaborations and position UVI as a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
At UVI, Dr. Pizarro has launched the Certificate in Entrepreneurship, secured more than $375,000 in external funding and revamped student competitions that awarded over $20,000 to emerging entrepreneurs. He holds a doctorate in Business Administration from Grenoble School of Management and an MBA from the University of Florida.
Dr. Owen Mtambo Joins UVI as Postdoctoral Fellow in Data Science
Dr. Owen Mtambo has joined UVI as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Data Science. He previously
served as Biostatistician and Head of the Data Science Department at the Training
and Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE) in Malawi, Lecturer in Statistics at Malawi
University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), Lecturer in Biostatistics at
Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and brings nearly 20 years of
teaching and research experience.
Dr. Mtambo holds a Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of South Africa (UNISA), along with advanced degrees in biostatistics and mathematical sciences. His research spans public health, biostatistics and data science with more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications. At UVI, he will advance interdisciplinary research and help expand data-driven academic programs.
Kelly Harrigan Appointed Board Liaison and Administrator
Kelly Harrigan, who has served UVI for 17 years, has been appointed Board Liaison
and Administrator, effective October 6. In this role, she will be the primary contact
for the Board of Trustees, coordinating meetings and communications between the Board,
administration and stakeholders.
Harrigan brings over 30 years of experience in information technology, project management
and higher education administration, including leadership as UVI’s Director of Information
Technology and management of a $20 million NSF VI-EPSCoR grant. She has also held
positions at Temple University, Florida International University and AT&T Wireless.
As President Safiya George continues her second year at the helm, these appointments underscore her commitment to strengthening UVI, expanding opportunities for students and driving economic growth across the Virgin Islands. “These leaders bring the expertise and vision needed to propel UVI into its next chapter of growth,” said Dr. George. “Together, we are strengthening our foundation and expanding opportunities that will benefit our students and the Virgin Islands for years to come.”
For more information, contact pr@uvi.edu.
