The University of the West Indies (UWI) will pay tribute to two outstanding Jamaicans this year—reggae icon Marcia Griffiths and the late business executive Don Wehby—during its 2025 graduation ceremonies.
Griffiths, celebrated globally as the “Queen of Reggae,” will be conferred with the honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) at the Mona Campus between October 30 and November 1.
“Over the course of 60 years in the music industry, Marcia has recorded nineteen solo albums, five duet albums (with Bob Andy), and numerous collaborations, including the Penthouse Records hits like I Shall Sing and Fire Burning. Her ability to adapt to changing times has secured her longevity in a competitive industry,” UWI said.
Her contributions have been recognised with top national honours: the Order of Jamaica (OJ) in 2023, the Commander Class distinction in 2014, and the Order of Distinction (OD) in 1994. These accolades highlight her role as both a cultural ambassador and a pioneering woman in reggae.
The late Don Wehby, who passed away in July 2025, will be posthumously awarded the Doctor of Laws (LLD). A transformational leader in business and public service, Wehby is remembered for his decades-long tenure at GraceKennedy Limited, where he rose to become Group Chief Executive Officer. His legacy includes championing corporate social responsibility, fostering youth development through sports, and advancing Jamaica’s economic footprint both locally and internationally.
Wehby’s contributions have been widely honoured. In 2015, he became the first Jamaican to receive the International Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Young Caribbean Professional Network. In the same year, he was also the youngest recipient of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica’s Distinguished Member Award. In 2020, he was awarded the Caribbean American Heritage Award for Outstanding Corporate Citizenship. In recognition of his business and entrepreneurial leadership, in 2017, he received the Order of Distinction (Commander Class), and in 2024, he was elevated to the Order of Jamaica (OJ).
The University of the West Indies says, “This year’s honorary graduands represent a diverse range of professions, each bringing decades of experience and impactful contributions in fields such as Music, Agriculture, Religion, Science and Research, and Aviation. The UWI Council approved the decision to honour these individuals, reflecting the institution’s commitment to celebrating excellence and innovation.”
Below is the complete list of the 2025 honorary graduands.
Five Islands Campus – October 11
- Professor Paget Henry – Caribbean Philosophy, Sociology and Political Thought – LLD
Cave Hill Campus – October 18
- Lyndon Gardiner – Aviation Sector and Regional Development – LLD
- Pierce Antonio Rudder – “Culturepreneur”- musician, cultural administrator, and entrepreneur – DLitt
St Augustine Campus – October 23 to 25
- Mungal Patasar – Musician and Composer – DLitt
- Professor Niranjan Kissoon – Global Health and Medicine – DSc
- Nigel Lewis Romano – Chartered Accountant – LLD
Mona Campus – October 30 to November 1
- The Late Honourable Donald Wehby-OJ, CD, Business Executive – LLD
- Marcia Griffiths-Music, Culture, and the Empowerment of Women – DLitt
- Bishop Robert Clarke – Preservation of the Revival Tradition – DLitt
- Professor Gene D. Morse – Professor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science – DSc
Global Campus – November 8
- Sir Calixte George – Agricultural Consultant, Telecommunications, Former Minister of Government – LLD
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