Nearly 30 students from Dominica were among 318 graduates celebrated at Monroe University’s 2026 commencement ceremony, held at the Royalton St. Lucia Resort & Spa Auditorium in Gros Islet on Monday, October 26.
The ceremony brought together graduates from Saint Lucia and across the Caribbean, along with university officials, faculty, families and invited dignitaries.
According to a press release, Monroe University President Marc Jerome joined senior administrators in recognizing the graduates’ achievements. Following the ceremony, Jerome gathered the Dominican graduates for a commemorative group photograph.
Dominica also featured prominently in the opening procession, with Merissa Gabory, an Accounting graduate who earned summa cum laude honors, proudly carrying the national flag.
The graduating class represented a diverse international community, including students from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Nicaragua, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Dominica and the United States. Each country was represented by a flag bearer.
Professor Antonia Laurent-Goodman led the procession as Grand Marshal, while General Education faculty member Nathalie Jolie-Fanis served as master of ceremonies.
Linda Berthier performed St Lucia’s national anthem, while graduating student Rohan Bennett sang the United States national anthem.
President Jerome and Senior Vice President Dr. Alex Ephrem welcomed the graduates. St Lucia’s Minister for Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation, Kenson Casimir, delivered congratulations on behalf of the government.
The keynote address came from Dr. Damian Eisenghower Greaves, a Caribbean scholar and public health specialist whose career spans education, government, healthcare administration and cultural development.
Dr. Ernest Ottley, Dean of Academics in St Lucia, announced academic award recipients, while Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Jacinth Coultman presented the graduates for the formal conferring of degrees.
The University reported that among the distinguished guests were Governor General Felix Finistere and Lady Selma Finistere, Venezuelan Ambassador Lieff Escalona, Moroccan Deputy Head of Mission Dina Melehi, and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Principal Dr. Winston Phulgence. Monsignor Patrick “Paba” Anthony delivered the invocation.
Founded in New York in 1933, Monroe University offers undergraduate and graduate education, with an emphasis on accessibility, affordability and student advancement.
Its St Lucia campus, located along Vide Boutielle Highway in Castries, provides programs in business, accounting, healthcare, criminal justice, hospitality and information technology.
The university has also partnered with the St Lucian government on hospitality training to prepare residents for employment in hotels, restaurants and the cruise industry.
