Professor Donna Hope of the University of The West Indies (The UWI), Mona, was recently installed as president of the Caribbean Studies Association (CSA), at its annual conference held in Simpson Bay, St Martin.

Professor Hope, a distinguished and renowned Jamaican scholar of cultural and popular music studies, was handed the baton by outgoing CSA President Dr Rhoda Arrindell following a week of scholarly engagement, regional dialogue, and cultural exchange at the CSA’s 49th Annual Conference.

In accepting the presidency, Professor Hope said, “It is an honour to lead CSA into the year that it celebrates the 50th staging of the conference. This is a moment to strengthen our foundations, celebrate our collective intellectual labour, and affirm the centrality of Caribbean thought and culture to global conversations.”

She said the agenda during her presidency will include:

• A rationalisation and renewal of the CSA’s structures, ensuring the association’s sustainability, responsiveness, and operational strength;
• A strategic expansion of CSA membership, with a focus on greater inclusion across linguistic, disciplinary, and generational lines; and
• The planning and execution of the 50th Annual CSA Conference, a landmark event that will be hosted in Kingston, Jamaica in June 2026.

The conference will be held under the theme: ‘Caribbean Vibes and Vibrations: Culture, Identity and Development in Transformative Times’, and the CSA promised that it will be a dynamic space of reflection, scholarly innovation, and celebration of the Caribbean’s intellectual, cultural, and social contributions.

The CSA’s 50th Anniversary Conference will gather scholars, researchers, policymakers, artists, activists, and partners from across the region and worldwide, making Kingston the global capital of Caribbean thought from June 1-5 2026.

The CSA says it is the leading independent professional organisation for scholars, students, and practitioners dedicated to the study and advancement of the Caribbean region, with members worldwide. The organisation is committed to fostering Caribbean research, dialogue, and collaboration across the humanities, social sciences, cultural and other sectors.