University of the West Indies (UWI) Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles has been appointed Distinguished Scholar for the 2026–2027 academic year by New York University (NYU).
The appointment will see Sir Hilary hosted by NYU’s Centre for the Study of Africa and the African Diaspora, which is led by Professor Michael Gomez.
In a statement issued by The UWI, Sir Hilary welcomed the appointment, describing it as an opportunity to reconnect with NYU while engaging with scholars focused on African history.
“This is a valued expression of fellowship, especially as the Centre is renowned for its outstanding scholarship and research. In 1994, I was a visiting scholar at NYU’s Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and was succeeded by Professor Kamau Brathwaite. Being back at NYU after 32 years, now among leading scholars of African history, will be special,” he said.
As part of his appointment, Sir Hilary will deliver a public lecture on October 13, 2026, examining the economic role of enslaved Black women within the slavery system.
The lecture, titled “The Economics of Wealth Creation: Why Enslaved Black Women Were the Financial Core of the Slavery Business Model,” is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Hemmerdinger Hall, NYU Silver Centre, in New York City.
The appointment adds to Sir Hilary’s record of international academic recognition. In 2022, he was selected as Honorary International Historian of the Year by the Association of American Historians and has also served as Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor-at-Large at Cornell University.
The UWI said the latest recognition highlights Sir Hilary’s scholarship and leadership internationally while contributing to the university’s broader engagement in global academic collaboration and scholarly dialogue.
