Recently retired Director of Social Security, Dr. Timothy Hodge, has been speaking with The Anguillian about his May 12, 2022 graduation ceremony at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), St. Thomas. He completed the Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change (CLIC) PhD programme on August 10, 2021. He explained the symbolism of the two stoles he wore as part of his graduation regalia. For many years now, UVI students have been graduating wearing stoles made from Kente cloth from Ghana. Indeed, Dr. Hodge also wore one when he graduated with a BA from UVI in 1992 – and many students at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and primary schools in Anguilla also graduate wearing Kente stoles nowadays. Kente cloth is one of the most famous and desired African fabrics which represents the history, philosophy, oral literature, religious beliefs, political thought and aesthetic principles of life, and it has been embraced by the African diaspora, particularly in graduation ceremonies. The colours of the cloth each hold symbolism: gold = status/serenity, yellow = fertility, green = renewal, red = passion, and black = union with ancestors/spiritual awareness. The Golden Stool, symbol of the throne of the Ashanti king and representing power, is displayed on the UVI Kente stole.
Dr. Hodge explained that in addition to the symbolism and pride which the UVI stole displayed, he wanted to represent what he termed his “awesome PhD journey” in a separate stole, and therefore meticulously designed a second one for his graduation ceremony. This was inspired both by the substance of his dissertation and his study of Adinkra symbols during his visit to Ghana in 2019, “The Year of the Return”. The Adinkra symbols are evocative messages conveying traditional wisdom, philosophies, and ideas or aspects of life or the environment. On his right side, from top to bottom, the Adinkra symbols on the stole represented Creativity, Leadership, Innovation, Change, and Knowledge; they represented the CLIC PhD which he had completed. On his left side, the symbols represented the findings of his PhD dissertation. From top to bottom, the symbols were the Three Dolphins of the Anguilla flag representing Strength and Endurance, the Adinkra symbol ‘Aya’ for Strength and Endurance, the Adinkra symbol for cooperation and interdependence (help me and let me help you) which represents the spirit of Jollification among the Anguillian people, the Adinkra symbol ‘Sankofa’ (return and get it), and the Island of Anguilla. According to Dr. Hodge, taken together, the stole encapsulated the entire PhD journey, learning from the past and using that knowledge to build for the future. It was made in the turquoise and white colours of the Anguilla flag by Ms Florence Guishard, and printed by Mackie Thomas of Innovate Ink.
Dr. Hodge’s dissertation, entitled “Retrospective and Prospective Examinations of Climate Creation for National Creativity and Innovation”, discussed the dimensions of climate (not to be confused with weather conditions but meaning the environment in which creativity occurs) and the factors which affect the climate and thereby enhance or inhibit creativity and innovation. The study further discussed the roles of ‘islandness’ and leadership. It explored, with a purposefully chosen sample of persons in Anguilla, their perceptions of the conditions which were necessary for creativity in the island in the past, as evidenced by the 1967 Anguilla Revolution, and which would be necessary for creativity and innovation there in the future. The study proposed a new model for National Creativity as well as a new National Creativity Causation Model which are expected to contribute to the knowledge of climate creation and its impact on national creativity and innovation. It concluded that Anguillians are indeed a very creative people and that, properly encouraged and harnessed by leadership, that creativity will produce the innovation and change necessary for Anguilla to survive and thrive in the future.
The two stoles were proudly worn by Dr. Hodge as he was the very first person to walk across the graduation stage and robed with additional regalia by Dr. James Maddirala, the Head of the PhD programme, and Dr. David Hall, President of UVI. Also present and beaming with pride were his mother Mrs. Olive Hodge, his wife Josette, his four daughters Dr. Timarah, Joya, Jordia and Timoya, and other family members, colleagues and friends.
The Anguillian congratulates Dr. Hodge on his academic achievements and his graduation.
