SUAKOKO, BONG COUNTY – On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Cuttington University reached yet another defining milestone in its distinguished 137-year history by graduating 1,037 students during its 64th Commencement Convocation, the largest graduating class ever produced by the oldest, private, four year degree granting university in all of sub-Saharan Africa. Drawn from the University’s four campuses, the graduates represent not only academic achievement but also the remarkable progress of an institution undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its modern history.
By: Rodney Sieh
The historic commencement comes just days after another landmark accomplishment: Cuttington University’s selection as the home of Liberia’s first UNESCO Chair in Peace-building, Conflict Resolution, Reconciliation, National Healing and National Unity. This prestigious recognition places the University within UNESCO’s globally respected UNITWIN Network, joining more than 130 leading research institutions committed to advancing knowledge, peace, and sustainable development.
Together, these two historic achievements tell a compelling story of visionary leadership, institutional renewal, and academic excellence under the presidency of Dr. Romelle Alexzyn Horton, the University’s 13th President and the first woman to lead Sub-Saharan Africa’s oldest private co-educational university.
When Dr. Horton assumed office in 2022, she inherited an institution with a proud legacy and enormous potential. She also inherited longstanding challenges that required bold leadership, innovative thinking, and a clear strategic vision. Guided by the theme “Pathway to Greatness – Greatness through Innovation – Scholarly Integrity,” her administration has focused on strengthening every pillar of the University, from infrastructure and technology to academic innovation, international partnerships, and global recognition.
Perhaps no achievement better illustrates this transformation than the modernization of the University’s energy infrastructure. For decades, unreliable electricity constrained academic programs, research, and student life. Rather than accepting these limitations, Dr. Horton successfully mobilized more than US$1 million in external funding to reshape the University’s energy future.
Through a partnership with USAID, Cuttington’s Suakoko campus was reconnected to Liberia’s national electricity grid after approximately three decades. Additional support from the Cuttington University Alumni Association in the United States introduced solar power to student dormitories, while a US$500,000 grant from the African Development Bank financed comprehensive campus re-electrification, including new transformers, poles, smart meters, and upgraded electrical infrastructure. These investments have significantly improved the University’s learning environment while promoting sustainability and operational resilience.
Dr. Horton’s commitment to academic excellence has been equally groundbreaking.
Under her leadership, Cuttington University established Liberia’s first doctoral degree program, a historic milestone that expands opportunities for advanced scholarship within the country. The inaugural doctoral graduates are expected to receive their degrees during the University’s 65th Commencement Convocation in 2027, opening a new chapter in Liberia’s higher education landscape and strengthening the nation’s research capacity.
Her administration also introduced Liberia’s first Dental Therapy Program through a strategic partnership with Trinity Dental. The program directly addresses the country’s need for qualified oral healthcare professionals while expanding Cuttington’s role in preparing graduates to serve critical sectors of national development.
Innovation has also shaped the University’s commitment to educational access. Understanding that internet connectivity remains a challenge for many prospective students, Dr. Horton championed the development of an offline digital entrance examination platform, ensuring that talented students from rural and underserved communities can pursue admission without technological barriers. It is a practical innovation rooted in the belief that every qualified Liberian deserves an opportunity to pursue higher education.
Beyond academics, Dr. Horton has strengthened Cuttington University’s partnerships with key national institutions. A notable example is the University’s collaboration with the Liberia National Police. Through this Memorandum of Understanding, approximately 45 police officers and firefighters are currently pursuing undergraduate studies at Cuttington University. At the same time, the Liberia National Police is constructing a depot on the Suakoko campus and renovating University facilities, creating a partnership that advances both education and national service.
Preparing students for an increasingly competitive global economy has also remained central to Dr. Horton’s vision. Smart Boards have been installed across graduate and undergraduate classrooms, providing faculty and students with modern teaching and learning technologies. Academic programs and professional certificates have likewise been reviewed and aligned with Liberia’s evolving economic and workforce needs, ensuring that graduates possess the knowledge and skills required for the twenty-first century.
Another enduring contribution has been the establishment of the Cuttington University Leadership Institute, designed to cultivate ethical, innovative, and transformational leaders. The Institute reflects the University’s commitment to developing graduates who understand that leadership is grounded in integrity, accountability, reconciliation, and service to society.
While each of these accomplishments is significant in its own right, the awarding of Liberia’s first UNESCO Chair may ultimately prove to be one of the defining moments in Cuttington University’s history. Beyond international recognition, it establishes the University as an emerging center for research, dialogue, and scholarship on peace-building and national unity, while opening new opportunities for international collaboration, faculty development, research funding, and student exchange.
The graduation of 1,037 students and the University’s recent UNESCO recognition are therefore more than isolated achievements. Together, they reflect the results of purposeful leadership, careful planning, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to institutional excellence.
History remembers leaders not simply for the offices they occupy, but for the institutions they strengthen and the opportunities they create. By that measure, Dr. Romelle Alexzyn Horton has presided over one of the most transformative periods in Cuttington University’s modern history. Her administration has expanded access to higher education, modernized campus infrastructure, strengthened academic programs, elevated the University’s international profile, and positioned Liberia’s oldest private university to compete confidently on the global stage.
As the Class of 2026 embarks on its next chapter, it does so from a University that is stronger, more innovative, more globally connected, and better prepared to shape Liberia’s future. The story of Cuttington University continues to unfold, but there is little doubt that Dr. Horton’s presidency will be remembered as a defining era, one that transformed ambition into achievement and vision into lasting institutional progress.
