Tributes are pouring in for Dr Gillian Paul, the esteemed former president of the College of Science, Technology, and Applied Arts of T&T (COSTAATT), who died this week.
President of COSTAATT Dr Keith Nurse said Paul’s impact extended nationally and regionally.
“She served on numerous committees dedicated to educational development, including the Review Committee for the White Paper on Tertiary Education and the Association of Caribbean Higher Education Administrators (ACHEA), which she led in the role of president for several years,” Nurse said.
He added, “Her expertise and passion were highly respected by colleagues throughout the region. Dr Paul’s legacy lives on in the strong foundation she helped to build for COSTAATT and in the countless staff, faculty, and students she empowered. We will deeply miss her leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to education.”
Paul served as president of COSTAATT from 2012 until she retired in 2022.
Before that, Paul was the college’s chief executive officer from 2002 to 2004, and prior to that she was the chair of the Academic Affairs Team during COSTAATT’s formation in 2000.
Chair of Digital Media and Communication Sophia Edwards Knox also described Paul as a mother in COSTAATT who enjoyed congenial relationships with faculty and staff.
“Many people marvelled at how she knew them all by name. She formed true friendships that are perhaps not typical between the leader of an organisation and junior staff. She always reminded staff of her open-door policy and would give a listening ear to anyone who sought her counsel. A true empath, she was often moved to tears when staff or students shared their challenges with her, even if she couldn’t fix the problem,” Edwards Knox recalled.
Foundational architect of the Ken Gordon School of Journalism Rodney Charles, who now serves as the MP for Naparima, expressed sadness at her passing.
“I worked with Dr Paul for more than a decade, during which time COSTAATT became a fully recognised player in the tertiary education landscape,” Charles said.
Recalling Paul’s pivotal role in shaping the School of Journalism, Charles said, “Dr Paul provided academic guidance for my efforts in creating, along with the late George John, the School of Journalism and PR, now known as the Ken Gordon School of Journalism and Communication.”
He added, “This is arguably the best journalism school in the region. Among its graduates are many who have made significant contributions to our local media. Others have pursued further studies and are lecturing in universities in the US and China.”
Charles said Paul’s vision for COSTAATT was rooted in the highest academic standards as she was mindful of the unique requirements and demands of ever-changing workplace environments.
Meanwhile, Senior History Lecturer at COSTAATT Dr Radica Mahase said Paul’s influence extended far beyond the confines of COSTAATT.
“She was a respected figure in educational circles nationally and regionally, serving on numerous committees dedicated to educational development. Her expertise, her passion for student development, and her commitment to excellence earned her the admiration and respect of colleagues both within COSTAATT and across the region,” Mahase said.
She added, “Dr Paul was a visionary leader and her impact will continue to resonate through the countless lives she has touched and the institutions she has shaped.”