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LaVerne Erina Ragster (born 1951) is a U.S. Virgin Island marine biologist and academic administrator who served as the fourth president of the University of the Virgin Islands from 2002 to 2009.
LaVerne E. Ragster | |
|---|---|
| 4th President of the University of the Virgin Islands | |
| In office 2002–2009 | |
| Preceded by | Orville Edward Kean |
| Succeeded by | David Hall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1951 (age 72–73) Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Education | University of Miami San Diego State University University of California, San Diego |
Ragster was born in 1951 on Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.[1][2]
In 1969, she graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School.[1] She earned a B.S. in biology and chemistry from the University of Miami in 1973.[1] In 1975, she completed a M.S. in biology with an algal physiology concentration at San Diego State University.[1] Ragster earned a Ph.D. in biology with a plant biochemistry concentration from the University of California, San Diego in 1980.[1][3] Her dissertation was titled, Proteinases and the Control of Protein Degradation in the Leaves of Soybean (G̲l̲y̲c̲i̲n̲e̲ m̲a̲x̲ [L.] Merr).[2]
Ragster began her career as an assistant professor at the College of the Virgin Islands (UVI).[1] She also was a researcher for the Caribbean Research Institute.[4] Her focus was on the conservation of marine resources.[3] She was promoted to professor of marine biology and served as chair of the division of science and mathematics.[1] She was an acting vice president for research and land grant affairs, vice president for research and public service, and senior vice president and provost of UVI.[1] In 2002, she became the fourth president and first female president of UVI.[3] She retired in 2009.[1] In 2022, the administration and conference center building was named in her honor.[4]
Ragster has served as president of the League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands.[5]
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