The Editor Speaks: ICCI president resigns

It was with much sadness to learn David Marshall has resigned his position as president of the International College of the Cayman Islands.

In his three years there he has shaken the College off its foundations and made reforms there I thought he would never be able to achieve.

In an article in the Cayman Compass written by James Whittaker he is reported as saying, “If you look at where the college was in 2014, ICCI was in grave danger of losing its accreditation, and that was one of the reasons I was brought in. The cleanup over the past three years has been a real challenge that has involved some heavy lifting and has involved working almost 24 hours a day, three years in a row.”

“It feels like pushing a rock up a hill and you reach the top, but there are still three or four more peaks to go. It is time for someone else to take over and go for the next peak,” he added.

In a statement Mike Mannisto, a partner at Ernst & Young, said, “The Board proudly recognizes Dr. Marshall’s three-year tenure, filled with many accomplishments including but not limited to: raising academic standards at the college; securing additional accreditations for ICCI; recruiting amazing staff and faculty; and providing world-leading technology for students and faculty to help the teaching and learning process.

“On behalf of all of the trustees, I thank Dr. Marshall for his contribution to moving the college forward and wish him the best as he prepares to move on to his next endeavor.”

And what is Dr. Marshall going to do next?

He is undecided. If another opportunity comes his way in the Cayman Islands he said he would consider it. If not it is back to the USA.

I am not privileged to know why he has resigned but it is probably due to the work load he has been put under during those three years.

“It feels like pushing a rock up a hill and you reach the top, but there are still three or four more peaks to go. It is time for someone else to take over and go for the next peak,” he said.

That really says it all.

He is pleased people here are at long last talking about improving the quality of education in the Cayman Islands.

When he arrived here in 2014 there was little focus on that. He thought it was shameful. That has changed.

“ I feel confident that the discussions are going in the right direction,” he said.

It is a shame ICCI has to look for someone else to feel his shoes. That will be a hard task but Dr. Marshall has left ICCI a much better college than it was when he arrived.

I wish him all the very best wherever he goes.

To read the Cayman Compass article go to: https://www.caymancompass.com/2017/03/22/icci-president-stepping-down-after-three-years/