As we continue our series highlighting the University’s fantastic faculty, we go beyond the traditional classroom with a mini-series we’ve named At the Center of UVI. With this mini-series we highlight the members of UVI’s faculty that serve in key roles at the many centers that comprise the research component of the University.
For our inaugural installment, we visit UVI CELL where, at the junction of Excellence and Innovation in Education, we meet Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras.
“True success is reaching a standard of happiness and fulfillment, finding meaning in your community, and knowing that you’re making a difference in the lives of those around you. It’s not a one-size-fits-all measure, but rather a reflection of purpose and contribution.”
– Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras
Who is Suzanne Darrow-Magras?
Suzanne Darrow-Magras is an innovative educator and workforce development leader with 25 years of experience in education, education technology, program development, and economic mobility initiatives. As Director of UVI CELL (Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learnnig), she advances education and workforce pathways across the U.S. Virgin Islands, supporting individuals facing barriers and expanding community opportunity through high-quality, equitable training programs.
When did you discover your love for education management?
I started my career as a classroom teacher specializing in educational technology, teaching kindergarten through eighth grade at Cornwall Consolidated School in Cornwall, CT. In 2004, I moved to St. Thomas to teach Computer Applications at Charlotte Amalie High School. Later, I transitioned to the nonprofit sector, working with adults who were struggling with literacy and completing their high school diplomas. That experience was a turning point; I realized that while I genuinely loved working directly with students, my gift was in scaling educational resources to reach people across the territory. That’s when I discovered my passion for education management. My role with UVI CELL allows me to amplify my impact far beyond what I could do in a single classroom.
“I’ve always been a risk-taker and early adopter of technology. This moment feels pivotal, we have the chance to usher our residents into modern times and equip them with tools that can genuinely change their trajectories. That’s the work that excites me most.”
– Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras
Between your work with Vivus (a research-based high school dropout prevention and recovery program with the aim of providing a means of healing educational trauma with the ultimate goal of helping students earn high school credit and high school diplomas online), The Virgin Islands Board for Career and Technical Education, and UVI Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning you have been a champion for alternative access points to education. How did this become your passion, and when did you know you wanted to make it your life’s work?
My doctoral dissertation focused on Internet-Based Learning Self-Efficacy, the problem of high school dropout, and individuals’ beliefs about their ability to earn high school diplomas online. I used that research to construct a program that provided access, tutoring, technology support, coaching, and mentoring for students. At the time, I was working for a local EDC company, and I convinced the CEO to fund Vivus scholarships for ten students. Within the first year, we had six graduates. From there, I started volunteering at the VI Bureau of Corrections, where I launched the very first online high school program in the territory’s correctional system. I also worked with the nonprofit My Brother’s Workshop as their education manager, expanding the research and incorporating all facets of my doctoral work into the program design. When I was offered the opportunity as the UVI CELL Director, I scaled that model again.
Over the past ten years, I’ve helped hundreds of students to graduate. Their stories and the impact have been life changing. The difference between having and not having a high school diploma is monumental, it touches everything from a person’s sense of self and earning power to their sense of achievement and letting go of guilt. Without a diploma, options are severely limited, including access to career and technical education pathways that lead to sustainable employment. That connection between credentialing, career readiness, and opportunity is what tied my work with Vivus, the VI Board for Career and Technical Education where I serve as Secretary, and UVI CELL together. It’s been a driving force behind everything I do, especially given the territory’s low literacy and high school graduation rates.
Can you tell us more about UVI CELL and how interested persons can support the Center’s work?
Dedicated to our community for over 20 years, UVI CELL provides adult and second-chance education services, workforce development courses, and community engagement programs for all ages. We work with local government agencies, nonprofits, and public partners to address critical workforce and economic development needs across the territory. We serve as a bridge to UVI and provide many free, grant-funded courses to Virgin Islands residents. Our mission is rooted in removing barriers to academic and career opportunities, engaging with our youth, and supporting our entrepreneurs.
UVI CELL offers a range of learning pathways to meet people where they are:
Traditional Learning — In-person and virtual courses led by live instructors.
Self-Paced Online Learning — Flexible, on-your-schedule education that empowers learners to move at their own pace.
Testing and Certification Services — Opportunities to transform skills into industry-recognized credentials.
Tailored Organizational Training — Custom-designed programs for government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses looking to invest in their teams.
Community Connections — Programs that strengthen communities through meaningful and lasting engagement.
Whether you’re an individual looking to grow, an organization seeking training solutions, or a community leader interested in collaboration, we’d love to involve you in our incredible work. Visit us at cell.uvi.edu or contact us at cell@uvi.edu or (340) 693-1100 to learn more.
If you could bring your dream course/educational platform to the territory, what would it be and why?
If I could bring my dream course or educational platform to the territory, it would democratize access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for every resident interested in personal, career, or entrepreneurial advancement. The emergence of AI has been exciting for me as someone with degrees in educational technology. I don’t want Virgin Islanders to miss out on the AI wave that’s transforming opportunities globally.
My dream platform would provide open access, meet people where they are, and offer guided instruction and mentorship to build self-efficacy around AI tools. The platform would support individuals as they develop confidence in using these technologies to advance themselves and secure opportunities for their families for generations to come.
I’ve always been a risk-taker and early adopter of technology. This moment feels pivotal, we have the chance to usher our residents into modern times and equip them with tools that can genuinely change their trajectories. That’s the work that excites me most.
“Every learner becomes part of the UVI story.”
– Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras
You have studied at several institutions across the nation and internationally, what is one piece of wisdom you have acquired from each one along the way?
At Charlotte Mason College, the teacher’s college branch of Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, I gained exposure to teaching internationally with students from all over the world. My student teaching in London was transformative, a single school had thirty different languages spoken within its walls, which opened my eyes to the possibilities of truly inclusive, global education.
At Central Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University, where I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, I was grounded in excellent best practices in teaching, classroom management, assessment and curriculum design.
For my PhD at Northcentral University, now National University, I pursued my studies online, a natural fit given my background in ed tech. It was one of the most challenging undertakings of my career, but it made me highly proficient in doctoral-level writing and research. That experience led me to UVI’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), where I serve as Vice Chair. I’ve been on the IRB for several years, and I genuinely love supporting students and their research. The world of research will always excite me, I’m drawn to the cutting edge.
Define Success
Success is deeply personal. For me, it encompasses achieving what God has put on my heart as my purpose and finding joy in my work. True success is reaching a standard of happiness and fulfillment, finding meaning in your community, and knowing that you’re making a difference in the lives of those around you. It’s not a one-size-fits-all measure, but rather a reflection of purpose and contribution.
“My vision is to transform UVI CELL into a fully integrated School of Continuing Education. The idea is simple but powerful: no matter where you start, your future begins here.”
– Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras
Looking five years into the future, what are your hopes for UVI CELL and the wider University as a whole?
My vision is to transform UVI CELL into a fully integrated School of Continuing Education. The idea is simple but powerful: no matter where you start, your future begins here.
Right now, the territory faces economic and population shifts, emerging industries, and an evolving education landscape. The School of Continuing Education would expand access to high-quality, workforce-aligned education, embrace underserved learners, and create clear, flexible pathways into UVI degrees, credentials, and campus life. Every learner, whether a working professional, an adult returning to school, or someone earning their first credential, would become a fully recognized part of the UVI community with access to advising, student services, and opportunities to transition from non-credit to credit-bearing programs.
The vision is rooted in lifelong learning and social advancement. We want to dismantle barriers to higher education, align with Middle States accreditation standards, and bridge personal growth with community transformation and career opportunity. Through strong partnerships with government agencies, community organizations, and industry, we can support the economic vitality and social fabric of the U.S. Virgin Islands and model what it means to be a University for Life. We’re not just offering educational opportunities, we’re transforming identity. Every learner becomes part of the UVI story.
Why does what you do matter?
What I do matters because I can facilitate access, especially for those who face barriers to education and opportunity. I can help bring a person’s dream and vision to life, whether that’s earning a credential, launching a service, or building something meaningful in their community. I get to be the person who makes things happen. I’m a visionary, but I’m also deeply action-oriented. I don’t just talk and plan, I do. People know they can come to me because I have the resources, connections, knowledge, and steadfastness to turn ideas into reality. In a territory where barriers to education and opportunity can feel insurmountable, that matters. I create pathways where none existed before and help people see what’s possible for themselves and their families. That’s what drives everything I do.
What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career in education management?
Spend time in the classroom first. You have to understand what it’s like day in, day out, working with students at varying levels within the classroom. Teach across every level, from pre-K to adult, so you truly understand the full spectrum of education. That expertise is essential. Without it, you might not earn the respect of your colleagues in the education field. Build your management muscle as you learn what works and how to make things happen. The role requires leadership skills, political savviness, strategic thinking, and the ability to navigate complex institutional environments.
Where can we follow your work?
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/suzannedarrowmagras
UVI CELL Facebook: facebook.com/UVICELL
UVI CELL Instagram: instagram.com/uvi_cell
“What I do matters because I can facilitate access, especially for those who face barriers to education and opportunity. I can help bring a person’s dream and vision to life, whether that’s earning a credential, launching a service, or building something meaningful in their community. I get to be the person who makes things happen.”
– Dr. Suzanne Darrow-Magras
