Institute of Caribbean Studies
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
C. Reynold Verret,PH.D. is a trained Biochemist. A native of Haiti who immigrated to the U.S. as a political refugee in 1963, he got his undergraduate degree at Columbia University in 1976 and a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982.
Throughout his career, Dr. Verrett has worked to increase the number of US students pursuing advanced study in the STEM disciplines, especially from underrepresented groups. He has labored to mitigate the shortage of qualified science and math teachers in K-12.
Dr. Verrett has served on many professional organizations and advisory bodies, including study sections of the National Institutes of Health and currently on the Board of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. He has received awards and fellowships for teaching and scholarship.
Dr. Verret was unanimously elected the sixth president of Xavier University by the Board of Trustees and began on July 1, 2015. He joined Xavier from Savannah State University where he served as provost and chief academic officer. Verret replaces longtime president Norman Francis, who has held the post for 47 years. Verret was chosen from among more than 300 candidates considered for the post of President.Michael Rue, chairman of the Xavier Board of Trustees said that "Dr. Verret is bringing new energy and fresh ideas to advance Xavier's mission..."
Xavier is ranked first in the United States for African American undergraduates continuing to complete medical school and for African American students earning undergraduate degrees in biology and life sciences, chemistry, physics and pharmacy.
Dr. Verret and his spouse are the parents of two marvelous sons.
