The First Woman President of the World Maritime University

Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry was named the seventh president of the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden. The university was founded in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization and offers master’s degrees and Ph.D.s in maritime disciplines. In its 32-year history, a total of 3,293 students from 165 countries have earned degrees from the university.

Dr. Doumbia-Henry holds dual citizenship in Switzerland and the Commonwealth of Dominica in the Caribbean. When she takes office in July, she will be the first woman and the first person from a developing country to lead the World Maritime University. She currently serves as director of the International Labour Standards Department of the International Labour Organization. Before joining the ILO in 1986, she taught law at the University of the West Indies in Barbados.

Dr. Doumbia-Henry holds a master’s degree from the University of the West Indies and a second master’s degree and a Ph.D. in international law from the University of Geneva in Switzerland.