Appointment of Acting Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs
7th September 2026
University of The Bahamas (UB) announces the appointment of Dr. Marcella Elliott-Ferguson as Acting Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs, effective immediately, for a one-year period.
A UB alumna, Dr. Elliott Ferguson succeeds Dr. Maria Woodside-Oriakhi, who has led efforts to strengthen Academic Affairs, its structures, processes, and overall effectiveness. The University extends sincere appreciation to Dr. Woodside-Oriakhi for her steadfast commitment, and many contributions.
As the University’s senior academic leader, Dr. Elliott-Ferguson will oversee the quality and effectiveness of the University’s academic enterprise and all senior academic administrators. She will also lead academic planning, programme development and assessment, academic policy development, the University Library, research institutes and other academic services.
Dr. Elliott-Ferguson has more than four decades of academic and administrative leadership experience, having served most recently as the VP of Enrolment Management and Athletics. She begun her service at the former College of The Bahamas (COB) as a Lecturer in Mathematics, before becoming an Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Mathematics and then serving as Registrar.
She was appointed Vice-President in 2016, and has had strategic oversight for administrative services, enrolment management, institutional research, financial aid and scholarships, admissions, the Registrar’s Office and university athletics.
Dr. Elliott Ferguson holds a PhD in Education, with a concentration in Mathematics and Science Education, a BSc in Mathematics from McGill University, and an Associate of Science degree in Physics with Mathematics from the former COB.
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