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FIU
Names Political Scientist to Head Honors College
MIAMI, Fla. (April 23, 2001) -- Ivelaw L. Griffith, Ph.D., a nationally recognized scholar in Caribbean politics and law, has been selected to serve as dean of the Florida International University Honors College, FIU leaders announced today. Currently an associate dean of FIU's College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of Political Science, Griffith has been a member of the FIU faculty since 1994. He also has published six books, including "The Political Economy of Drugs in the Caribbean" (2000, MacMillan), and has been a visiting scholar at the Royal Military College of Canada and the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies in German, among other prestigious institutions. "Dr. Griffith brings proven leadership, excellent credentials and an intense commitment to academic quality to this position," said FIU Provost/Executive Vice President Mark B. Rosenberg in announcing the appointment. "His international visibility will be a great asset to a young honors college seeking to build a reputation in the academic community." Griffith holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Guyana (1980), an M.A. from Long Island University ('84) and is a doctoral graduate of the City University of New York ('90). At various times since, he has lectured at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, the Inter-American Defense College (all in Washington, D.C.), the U.S. Air for School of Special Operations and the U.S. Coast Guard and other leading institutions. In addition to last year's work on the Caribbean drug economy, Griffith is the editor of "Democracy and Human Rights in the Caribbean" (Westview Press, 1997) and the author of "Drugs and Security in the Caribbean: Sovereignty Under Siege" (Penn State University Press, 1997), as well as three other books. He has written dozens of articles for leading journals, including the Latin American Research Review, Journal of Inter-American Studies & World Affairs, and the Journal of Commonwealth & Comparative Politics. His most recent paper is scheduled to appear in the Spring 2001 edition of prestigious Joint Forces Quarterly, a publication of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Dr. Griffith's global view is that of an honors college with a true international mission," said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. "I know that the students, faculty and staff of the FIU Honors College will benefit greatly from his leadership in the dean's office. I'm certainly looking forward to it." At FIU, Griffith received the Excellence in Research Award in 1999 and the Caribbean Studies Association's Distinguished Service Award in 1998. As associate dean, he has been in charge of the budget for Arts & Sciences - FIU's largest college - and management of employment contracts for its 400 faculty. "This is an exciting time in the life of FIU to be leading the university's Honors College," said Griffith. "As the university places an ever-greater emphasis on academic excellence, honors studies will play a central role in strengthening FIU's position as one of this country's leading public research universities." Griffith will begin his new role in July. Opened in 1972, FIU is now one of the nation's largest universities, as well as Florida's only metropolitan public university with both a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and the Carnegie Foundation's top rating for research universities. Media contacts: Todd Martinez-Padilla Simmons (305) 348-2716 or 2232 David Umansky (202) 357-2627, ext. 106. |
