Professor Shermaine Barrett, a highly motivated and results-oriented professional with exceptional leadership and communication skills, has dedicated over three decades to the field of educvation and training program management. Currently serving as the Deputy President (Acting) at the University of Technology Jamaica (UTech, Ja.), Prof. Barrett has a proven track record of excellence in designing, delivering, directing, and managing educational initiatives.

She holds a PhD in Work and Human Resource Education from the University of Minnesota in the USA and a Masters of Arts in Adult Education from the Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada. She is also a trained TVET educator having gained her Technical Teacher’s Diploma, in Industrial Technology from the College of Arts Science and Technology, now the University of Technology, Jamaica. She has distinguished herself in the areas of teaching, research, and service which has led to her attaining the rank of Professor.

With over 22 years at the University of Technology, Jamaica Prof. Barrett has held various key roles at the institution including Programme Co-ordinator for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education, Programme Leader for the M.Ed/PhD Educational Leadership and Management program, Head of the School of Technical and Vocational Education (SOTAVE) and Dean of the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies. In these positions, she has demonstrated strong leadership in educational governance, strategic planning, and academic development.

In addition to academic leadership and management Prof. Barrett has been actively involved in teaching and learning, delivering courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels in areas such as Curriculum Planning and Development, Educational Administration, and Human Resource Management for Educators, Qualitative Research. She has also served as a student advisor and conducted teaching practice assessments for B.Ed. student teachers.

Beyond her role at UTech, Ja., Prof. Barrett has contributed to the wider educational community through various training and capacity-building initiatives. As a facilitator and presenter at professional development workshops and seminars, she has shared expertise on topics ranging from classroom management to skills assessment, empowering educators to enhance their teaching practices.

Her research and scholarly work have focused on: adult teaching and learning, online teaching and learning, workforce education, STEM education, among others. She has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles, published a book and book chapters and several other academic publications. She has made numerous conference presentations locally and overseas and has engaged in a number of commissioned studies for various entities local and international including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). She has also been invited to participate in several international fora in various regions of the world: Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

She is the recipient of a number of awards her most recent being the President’s Award for Distinguished Service from the University of Technology, Jamaica.