By, Dr. Kendra L. Harris, Dean of the School of Business
This past December 2025, I had the humbling pleasure of making a sojourn to Ghana, West Africa as part of the student recruitment efforts for the University of the Virgin Islands. The trip marked my first foray onto the soil of the “Motherland.” The experience was exceptionally enlightening.
Fortunately, long ago, I was educated on the majesty of Africa that extends beyond the stereotype that safaris are the core of the continent’s existence. Armed with my “world view” of Africa I was poised to inhale its splendor and the kaleidoscope of all it has to offer. As the title of this peace intimates, I felt quite “welcomed” by the residents of Ghana. From the time I disembarked from the plane, I was welcomed by Accra’s employee ambassadors with a heartfelt “Welcome to Ghana” statement. This greeting would prove to be the staple of all professional interactions that transpired during my time there.
One day, while idly standing in a marketplace in Kumasi, a Ghanaian passerby spoke, “Welcome to Ghana,” as if he were routinely extending morning salutations to a neighbor.
As I mentioned, my purpose for being there was to recruit for the University of the Virgin Islands, thanks in large part to the School of Business Chair of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Dr. Nathan Austin, a native Ghanaian, who has previously invested time in working to attract Ghanaian students to UVI. Our team consisted of President Safiya George, Provost Lora Baily, Vice-President Richard Nader, and Associate Vice-Provost Edward Alexander. The visit included an array of interactions with various universities and agencies that facilitate post-secondary education including the US Embassy in Ghana, the Ministry of Education, and the University of Ghana.
Our recruitment took various forms across approximately fourteen schools, which put us in front of nearly 10,000 students. While recruiting, I found the students to be an extension of the tone that was set when I first step foot in Ghana. The students are smart, ambitious, and enthusiastic about securing a post-secondary education for building upon their futures. Our recruitment efforts spanned Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi. At every turn, the students exuded intellectual curiosity, coupled with hospitality towards us, their visitors.
Overall, I felt a blanket of warmth and a feeling of familiarity while there. It was truly as if I was “returning” to familial settings. I highly encourage anyone who gets the opportunity, make the visit to Ghana.
