Dr Prem Misir, former director of the Government Information Agency, was elected Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG) at a meeting of the University Council last Tuesday, when his three-year appointment took effect, a news release from UG’s Public Relations Division said.

Dr Misir was also permanent secretary of the one-time Ministry of Information and had served as chairman of the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation. He also heads the Research Institute for the Study of the Caribbean Diaspora, chartered by the State of New York and approved by the Department of Education.

Dr Misir, who holds a PhD from the University of Hull, and the MPhil (Master of Philosophy) from the University of Surrey, England, is at present pursuing post-doctoral work in Public Health at Columbia University, New York, the release stated.

Among previous appointments, he has been a clinical associate professor at New York University, assistant professor at St John’s University, and Audrey Cohen College, assistant professor and primary care coordinator, Interfaith Medical Center/SUNYHSCB, and a Faculty/Instructor at Hunter/Baruch Colleges/City University of New York.

Misir also was a research fellow and a lecturer at UG, and was a former chair and adviser of the East Indian Diaspora, Inc. The new Pro-Chancellor who is the author of books and several papers, is currently completing a book manuscript on marginalization in Guyana, the release added.