ST. THOMAS – The Members of the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands are saddened by the news of the passing of the Former President of the University of the Virgin Islands, Orville Kean, who was appointed by the UVI Board of Trustees to serve as the university’s third president in 1990. He held the position of president for 12 years until his retirement in 2002. Kean was given the status of Professor Emeritus in honor of his great achievements while serving at the University of the Virgin Islands.

Senate President Milton E. Potter stated, “The Virgin Islands has lost a true pioneer and visionary leader with the passing of Dr. Orville E. Kean.”

Kean was noted for his many significant achievements while serving as President. He led the university during the recovery from Hurricanes Hugo and Marilyn in 1989 and 1995, respectively, while improving infrastructure significantly. He is noted for the completion of major projects that elevated the university to a modern institution, which included, but were not limited to, a research and extension center on St. Croix, residence halls on both the St. Thomas and St. Croix Campuses, a Department of Information Technology, video telephone conference rooms, a music education center, and the opening of the Sports and Fitness Center on St. Thomas in 2001. The UVI Research and Technology Park was established under his tenure, which has since attracted more than 70 companies to the territory. The St. Thomas Campus of the University of the Virgin Islands was renamed in Kean’s honor in 2021.

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