Professor Densil A. Williams has built a successful career in business and academia on a foundation of scholarship.
He has been outspoken about his belief that the role of universities in societies such as ours is “to build a citizenry that is empowered to think critically and make their own decisions to advance their lives”. (“Top Tier Talks with Prof. Densil A. Williams”, The University of the West Indies, Alumni Online).
His abilities and results were recognized and celebrated even as an undergraduate, and he continues to excel today. He has published more than 60 refereed journal articles and papers, and has also authored four books, two of which have won awards for outstanding research at The UWI.
1996-1999 – Received the Government of Jamaica Exhibition and Jamaica Flour Mills Scholarships to pursue Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
1999-2001 – Awarded the Lome IV Scholarship to pursue Master of Science (MSc)
2003-2006 – Awarded Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue Doctorate (Ph. D)
2010 – Received the Principal’s Award for Best Research Publication – Books: Faculty of Social Sciences, UWI Mona for his book Understanding Exporting in the Small and Micro Enterprise
2011 – Received the Principal’s Award for Best Research Publication - Faculty of Social Sciences, UWI Mona for his article entitled “Export Initiation in Small, Locally Owned Firms from Emerging Economies: The Role of Personal Factors”
2013 – Received the Principal’s Award for Most Outstanding Researcher in the Faculty of Social Sciences for his published articles “Technology and the export behaviour of small, locally owned firms: New insight”, “The Dark Side of Social Entrepreneurship” and “Competiveness of Small Nations: What Matters?”
2014 - Appointed the first Professor of Business and Management Education at the UWI
At the time of his appointment in 2014, at 37 years old, Professor Williams was the youngest person to be promoted to the rank of Professor in the history of the UWI, Mona Campus.
Committed to the vision of the institution being known as ‘an excellent global university rooted in the Caribbean’, Professor Williams has been diligent and tireless in his service to The UWI since joining the staff in 2007. Relied on for his ability to both design and implement strategic plans, he has truly become an integral part of the administrative structure of The UWI.
2007 - Joined the UWI, Mona staff as Lecturer in the Department of Management Studies
2010 - Promoted to Senior Lecturer and later that year, Head of Department
2012 - Appointed Deputy Executive Director of Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM)
2014 - Appointed Executive Director of MSBM
2016 - Appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor for the University Office of Planning (UOP).
As Pro-Vice Chancellor for the UOP, the administrative arm concerned with strategic planning and economic engagement, Professor Williams led The UWI to the achievement of two of its most significant goals:
At the time of his appointment in 2014, at 37 years old, Professor Williams was the youngest person to be promoted to the rank of Professor in the history of the UWI, Mona Campus.
2020 - Appointed as Principal of the Five Islands Campus
2021 - Appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors for UWI Press
2023 - Appointed Principal of the Mona Campus