A new principal has been appointed to the Berkeley Institute, and will take over as the school’s seventh head at the start of next year.

Phyllis Curtis-Tweed will take up the post on January 2. Term commences on January 6.

She will succeed acting principal Keisha Douglas.

A Berkeley graduate, Dr Curtis-Tweed attained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in foreign language education from the University of Maryland.

She taught at the middle and high school levels for six years in the US, then taught university courses as a doctoral assistant.

After obtaining a doctorate in education studies, concentrating on psychology, Dr Curtis-Tweed lectured in psychology at the Harvard Medical School.

She worked for ten years at the Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York (CUNY), and has served over the past 14 years as a faculty member and administrator in higher education.

Dr Curtis-Tweed is currently the Dean of Art, Design, and Humanities at Oakland Community College, Michigan.

Berkeley Board chairman Craig Bridgewater commended her return to the Island and her former alma mater.

“She will be supported by an outstanding team of deputies,” added Mr Bridgewater, also thanking Ms Douglas for “an outstanding job in leading the school, demonstrating sound leadership and a commitment to excellence”.

“We are confident that the collective efforts of the leadership team at the Berkeley Institute will result in great things for the success of our students.”