MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Businesswoman, educator and former insurance advisor Dorothy Miller was last Wednesday installed by International University of the Caribbean (IUC) as the second Regional Pro Chancellor to serve the South Middlesex Region.

Founded by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in 2005, IUC is the result of a merger of the previous College for Leadership and Theological Development and the Mel Nathan College, which focused on business and skills-related courses.

Vice-president in the South Middlesex Region Dr Elvris Hewitt Buckle told the Jamaica Observer Central that individually both institutions existed for more than 20 years.

The IUC campuses and teaching centres in Manchester, St Elizabeth, Clarendon and part of St Catherine form the South Middlesex Region of the educational institution headquartered in Kingston.

Miller succeeded Mandeville attorney Keith Smith, who died last year.

Buckle said that Miller’s duties will include participation in the meetings of the university’s General Council, chairing the regional chapter of the IUC Foundation, seeking resources for the university, assisting the establishment of a robust alumni association and friends organisation at the university, and making herself available for consultation as a mentor to the senior university leadership in the region.

Miller told the audience at the installation ceremony at Ridgemount United Church in Mandeville that it is a task that she aims to do well.

“I have been told that if you are nervous it means you want to do well. I do want to do well, so I am a little nervous,” she said.

“The International University of the Caribbean is showing dedication and great care in helping our students to become world leaders, as we believe that education is the only key to sustainable upward mobility for our people, especially the less privileged,” Miller said.

“We believe that quality education should be accessible to all. In order to achieve this, we must consciously volunteer and your presence here today means that you are willing to work with me in this venture. It is one of a high calling and one that will call for us to labour in the vineyards for our young and not so young people…,” Miller added.

Described as community-oriented, Miller has served organisations such as the Clarendon 4-H Advisory Board, the Winston Jones High School Board in Manchester, the Junior Achievement Programme for Manchester, the People’s National Party Women’s Movement as vice-president, Knox College as board chairman, Knox Trust, Spalding Citizens’ Association as vice-chairman, Friends of the Percy Junor Hospital, the United Church Senior Citizens’ Home, and Manchester Cultural Development Committee as chairman.

Trevor Heaven, acting custos of Manchester, said that with institutions such as IUC, Mandeville is fast becoming a residential and educational hub.

Mayor Brenda Ramsay said that the church must continue to play a critical role in development.

“I have always advocated that the church, which has a long history of involvement in education …must continue to play a critical role in the development of our nation. What they bring to the table must be a different kind of thinking…,” she said.

Guest speaker, university professor and chairman of the Broadcasting Commission, Dr Hopeton Dunn, said that as it relates to educational offerings generally, there is still a lot of work to be done in the South Middlesex Region, Jamaica and the Caribbean.

“We are living in what is called a knowledge society that is hostile to ignorance. It is an ecosystem that is evolving and transforming…,” he said.