[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1120-E1121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ON THE RETIREMENT OF DR. LAVERNE RAGSTER FROM THE PRESIDENCY OF THE 
                    UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 2009

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and much 
gratitude that I rise to salute Dr. LaVeme Erin Ragster as she steps 
down from the Presidency of the University of the Virgin Islands.
  Dr. Ragster was born and raised on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 
where she graduated, as valedictorian, from Charlotte Amalie High 
School in 1969. Her educational career includes completion of a 
bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry, in 1973, from the 
University of Miami, a master of science degree in biology with an 
algal physiology concentration, in 1975, from San Diego State 
University, and a doctorate in biology with a plant biochemistry 
concentration, in 1980, from the University of California, San Diego.
  Early in her career, Dr. Ragster served as a member of the teaching 
faculty at the College, which became the University of the Virgin 
Islands, where she was promoted from assistant professor to professor 
of marine biology. During that period she worked with a number of 
regional organizations, including the Caribbean Studies Association 
(past president), Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (former board 
member, past chair of the board), Caribbean Conservation Association 
(past vice president), Island Resources Foundation (board member), The 
Nature Conservancy (former board member) and the Caribbean Council for 
Service and Technology (USVI representative).
  In addition to her professional activities, Dr. Ragster has always 
been actively involved in her community. She has served as president of 
the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands, and in a number of 
leadership positions in the territory in non-governmental 
organizations, particularly in the areas of education and the 
environment.
  The second decade (and beyond) of Dr. Ragster's career has been 
devoted to professional pursuits leading to positions of progressively 
greater administrative responsibilities. She held positions such as: 
Chair of the Division of Science and Mathematics; Faculty Trustee to 
the UVI Board of Trustees; Acting Vice President for Research and Land 
Grant Affairs; Vice President for Research and Public Service; and 
Senior Vice President and Provost at UVI. In addition, during this 
period Dr. Ragster published a number of papers on the role of natural 
resources in resource management and development, produced programs for 
the training of faculty and resource managers, and developed curriculum 
materials to teach natural resource management at the university level 
in the Caribbean.
  Dr. Ragster helped to link UVI with other higher education 
institutions in the region when she served as sub-secretary general for 
the Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes 
(UNICA) and as the coordinator of the Caribbean Universities for 
Natural Resource Management. More broadly, Dr. Ragster has served as a 
member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Environment 
Program, as a member of the national Marine Fisheries Advisory 
Committee and as a member of the National Commission on Environmental 
Justice.

  For the last seven years of her career, Dr. Ragster has served as 
President of the University of the Virgin Islands. She became the first 
female and fourth president of the University of the Virgin Islands on 
August 1, 2002. Dr. Ragster currently serves as a member of the UVI 
Research and Technology Park Board, past Chair and current member of 
the University Consortium for Small Island States Governing Board, Vice 
President for the Association of Caribbean Universities and Research 
Institutes (UNICA), member of the Liga Atletica Interuniversitaria de 
Puerto Rico y las Islas Virgenes Governing Board, a member of the 
American Council on Education's Organization of Women in Higher 
Education, a facilitator for the American Council on Education's 
Institute New CAOs, member of the Alexander Hamilton Distinguished 
Public Service Award Selection Committee, and the Caribbean National 
Resources Institute Partner, since 2009.
  During her tenure as President, Dr. Ragster's leadership and 
commitment to excellence has been recognized by those both at home and 
abroad. Among community groups that have honored President Ragster are 
the Business and Professional Women's Organization, which named her 
person of the year for 2003. In March 2009, The Rotary Club of St. 
Thomas II bestowed the Paul Harris Award upon Dr. Ragster, as did The 
Rotary Club of St. Thomas East. Dr. Ragster has also been an honorary 
member of The Rotary Club of St. Thomas II for the past three years.
  In early 2006, around the mid-point if her Presidency, Dr. Ragster 
received a Drum Major for Justice Women Leadership in Higher Education 
Award from the SCLC/W.O.M.E.N., Inc in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Ragster is 
married to Lloyd Gardner, an environmental planner, and they have two 
sons, Adrian and Alex.
  Madam Speaker, throughout her stellar career, Dr. Ragster has 
displayed academic and professional integrity which has translated into 
the advancement of her students, her peers and indeed the entire Virgin 
Islands community. As she steps down from the presidency of the 
University, we are sure that this is but a step in the direction of 
even more commitment to community and advancement in both the personal 
and professional sphere. On behalf of the people of the United States 
Virgin

[[Page E1121]]

Islands, I would like to wish one of their favored daughters, Godspeed, 
as she moves forward on her life's journey.

                          ____________________