Dr. Doris Battiste – The all rounder

By Jáedee S.K. Caines

While many talk about the recent incidents of crime in the Virgin Islands territory, one hardworking and community-driven Virgin Islander recalls the early 1990s when crime in the VI seemed like a new discovery. She used those incidents as a foundation to help construct one of the most recognized awareness programs at any Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

Dr. Doris Battiste is that person.

She is currently employed by the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) as the Associate Campus Administrator, a title equivalent to Dean of Students at other universities. She also holds the post of Administrator of the Substance Abuse, HIV and Hepatitis Prevention Program: a title that has given her much recognition as a woman focused on empowering youth.

Dr. Battiste believes that through involvement in this program, she has had a bright and prosperous career. “I have always had an interest in helping the less advantaged students and I always try to find creative and innovative ways to help students grow and develop,” she said.

After returning to the VI in 1992, following her post graduate studies at Howard University and George Washington University, she was asked to head the drug prevention program that the university had recently received a grant to fund. Since then, Dr. Battiste has spread her wings over a number of other organizations and groups.


She started a volunteer mentoring program with the Michael J. Kerwin Elementary School where UVI students served as mentors to those at the elementary school. This interactive program fostered teamwork, leadership, caring and friendship building and led to the program receiving heavy recommendations from the community.

Dr. Battiste was also instrumental in the functioning of the Family Life Center for Violence Prevention which was an integral part of the university for six years. This program had a very similar concept to the volunteer mentoring program but was located at UVI. To date, some of the students who participated in the program gained employment as teachers of elementary school children.

It was in the year 2005 that she started the Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Program, also known as the Student Peer Educators program (SPE). The name changed in 2007 to include Hepatitis education as another explored avenue. The program, which was funded by a federal grant from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMSA) has evolved into a dynamic mentoring initiative for the students of UVI by the students of UVI.

The program, which has become very popular on both UVI campuses, has a present role of 29 active Student Peer Educators (SPE): 11 on St. Croix and 18 on St. Thomas.

For Senior Biology student, Cliaunjel Williams, life in the workplace would not be the same without the presence of Dr. Battiste. “I met Dr. Battiste through Student Housing events and through the Student Peer Health Program. I have known her for three years. She encourages me to take advantage of all that UVI has to offer,” Williams said.

As she prepared herself to talk about her student peer educators, Dr. Battiste leaned back in the “semi-rocking chair,” folded her arms and smiled as she said, “My whole life has to be around young people to try and help them, to understand some values that were passed on to me.”

Despite her busy schedule, Dr. Battiste always seems to find the time to assist students with their concerns. Her job as program administrator entails organizing training sessions, providing work plans, interviewing SPEs and providing reports to the federal organization, but her job as Associate Campus Administrator charges her with the responsibility of overseeing the entire Student Affairs component. She credits much of her success to her team at Student Affairs. “My job is sometimes tough. It means long nights but I have a very capable and dedicated staff that manages their units well and makes my job easier,” Battiste said.

Student Peer Educator and junior Biology major, Cherissre Boateng was thrilled to talk about Dr. Battiste’s impact on her life. “I work closely with her. I have known Dr. Battiste for approximately three3 years now. Dr. Battiste is a very professional, outstanding, phenomenal woman who takes her career very seriously. Dr. Battiste motivates me to work hard, work for what I want and always go the extra mile.”

Realizing that she has impacted the lives of her students and possibly others, Dr. Battiste says that only happens because she genuinely cares about what she does. “I always give my all, even if money isn’t involved. That’s just me, very passionate.” She added that the people she chooses
to surround herself with also help to motivate her. “I like to be around people who love to work smarter not necessarily harder.”

Dr. Battiste continues to remain focused on educating students about substance abuse, HIV and Hepatitis. While she wants students to be equally educated about the different topics that the student peer educators explore, the greatest awareness seems to be in Hepatitis. Because students have to complete pre and post tests about the different presentation topics, Dr. Battiste and her team are able to monitor the knowledge received by students.

With a Masters in Guidance Counseling and a Doctorate in Higher Education with a concentration in Student Development under her belt, Dr. Doris Battiste continues to make her contribution to the VI community by facilitating programs geared towards educating youth about potential harmful issues around them.