UG appoints Sir Ronald Sanders 14th Chancellor

The Council of the University of Guyana (UG) announced the official appointment of Sir Ronald Sanders on Friday as the 14th Chancellor of the nation’s premier tertiary institution. The appointment followed the formal assent of the University Council on Friday, January 2, 2026; an event that marks a historic milestone for the University as it welcomes a diplomat of international stature to lead its highest governing body, the University said in its press release.
According to UG, Sanders, a son of Guyanese soil whose career has spanned the heights of international diplomacy, scholarship and broadcast journalism, succeeds a legacy of distinguished chancellors. His appointment comes at a transformative era for UG as it seeks to expand its cutting-edge programmes, research footprint and international partnerships. He currently serves as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States (US) and to the Organisation of American States (OAS), having previously served (twice) as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) and Ambassador to the European Union (EU) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

In the release, the university noted that his public career began in journalism and broadcasting in Guyana. Rising swiftly to national prominence, he helped shape the “golden era” of radio journalism, becoming the General Manager of the Guyana Broadcasting Service (GBS) at the remarkably young age of 25. This early commitment to truth and communication foreshadowed the clarity and courage that would define his later diplomatic career.
Today, he is recognised as a leading intellectual voice in the hemisphere. His syndicated commentaries, published weekly across the globe, continue to inform and challenge policymakers and citizens alike on issues of justice, governance and the survival of small states in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, it added.
Sir Ronald Sanders has achieved both national and international acclaim in his diplomatic endeavours as well as his writings, which have led to global recognition, awards and honours.
“As Chancellor, he will act as a vital link between the institution, the Government and the international community,” the university said. “Sir Ronald will be a major asset not only to the University of Guyana but to the country as a whole as we move forward with the modernisation and transformation of our economy and society.”
Minister of Education Sonia Parag, Pro-Chancellor Professor Randolph Persaud, Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin and the UG Council expressed their profound satisfaction with the appointment and welcomed the new Chancellor on behalf of the University’s Senior Administration.