NEW YORK, Aug. 2, CMC — The New York-based American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) has announced a new Board leadership team to advance growth, partnerships and student success.
AFUWI Jamaican-born Executive Director Ann-Marie Grant told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Saturday that the incoming executive committee will build on “a decade of transformational leadership while expanding scholarships, strategic partnerships, and career pathways for Caribbean students.
“The team will focus on expanding educational opportunity, strengthening strategic partnerships, and investing in the next generation of Caribbean leaders,” she said.
“After nearly a decade of dedicated leadership under Board Chair Dr. Cyrus McCalla, AFUWI now enters a new chapter under Lyenda Delp, the first UWI alumna and the first woman elected to serve as the foundation’s chair,” added Grant, stating that Delp leads a “distinguished executive committee committed to advancing student success throughout the Caribbean.”
Grant said that joining Delp on the executive committee are Dr. Ron Chase, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, as deputy chair; Wayne Melbourne, Esq., executive director and senior advisory compliance officer at Morgan Stanley, as board secretary; and Andrea McNish, chief financial officer of The University of the West Indies, as treasurer.
“Together, the officers bring broad professional expertise, institutional knowledge, and a strengthened connection between the foundation and the university,” Grant said.
She said Delp is a distinguished global investment executive, who currently serves as head of Global Insurance and Institutional Asset Solutions at Franklin Templeton.
“In this role, she leads engagement with some of the world’s largest institutional investors,” Grant said. “Throughout her career—including senior leadership roles at BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and Deloitte Consulting—she has built a reputation for forging strategic partnerships, leading high-performing teams, and driving sustainable organizational growth.”
“The new board leadership will focus on broadening AFUWI’s national presence, deepening donor engagement, expanding alumni participation, and increasing investment in scholarships and career pathways,” Delp said.
Over the past decade, AFUWI said it has funded scholarships for more than 700 students, “helping turn their dreams into degrees.”