Featured Member
DR. LLOYD WALLER
Our featured member is Dr. Lloyd Waller, Lecturer in Methodology in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies, Mona. Dr. Waller holds a PhD in Sociology and Social Policy from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, with a specialization in Information and Communication for Development as well as Advanced Research Methods. His thesis entitled "ICT for Whose Development: Towards the development of methodologies and analytical tools for understanding and explaining the ICT for Development Phenomenon", attempts to develop advanced methodological tools for studying the ICT for Development Phenomenon. Dr. Waller also holds a BSc in International Relations and an MSc in Sociology of Development, both from the UWI, Mona, Jamaica.
Dr. Waller specializes in the development, advancement and use of relevant research methodologies, methods and analytical tools to integrate technology, business, government and society for the purpose of development. His primary areas of research are Advanced Research Methodologies and Development Studies - with a special emphasis on corruption, electronic governance, as well as information and communication technologies in foreign trade and development. His secondary areas of research include: Project Management; Small Business Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management. Over the last ten (10) years, Dr. Waller has worked in several research projects for organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organizations, and the European Union.
Achievements
Dr. Waller is a true success story, who overcame the ranking “least likely to succeed” at Wolmers Boys School where he only managed to get a single course, Art at Grade 1, out of 8 CXCs. He subsequently excelled in his educational pursuits at Excelsior Community College (“EXED”) and then moved on to pursue his BSc. at the UWI, Mona Campus in 1994. He has continued on this path of educational and professional excellence ever since.
In 2001 he received the Outstanding Past Students Award in 2001 from his Alma Mater, EXED.
In November 2008, as a part of the US Embassy’s outreach activities, Dr. Waller joined 100 individuals from 76 countries as Jamaica’s representative to the USA, during the recent US Presidential Elections, on the US Embassy’s IVOTE Initiative. This International Visitor programme provided him with the opportunity to network on behalf of the UWI and Jamaica and to have firsthand experience of the US democratic 
and electoral machinery at work.
In his own words this experience “provided me with access to information related to electoral systems, process and practices around the world, political cultural, socialization and realities (as against theory which I am so accustomed to); together with experiences and experiments with democratic governance and alternatives, campaign finance, the use of Information and Communication Technology in Politics and, more importantly, political polling”. In addition to transmitting the -knowledge gleaned from this information-rich opportunity to his colleagues and students, Dr. Waller intends to lobby for an electronic voting agenda and the enhancement of the electoral process in Jamaica.
A true 21st century man, he lists his hobbies as Playing the Playstation 3 and keeping up-to-date with all the latest electronic gadgets. In addition, Dr. Waller has chosen a rigid health and wellness regime that includes a daily, rigorous fitness routine at his gym and daily laps around the “Bowl” at UWI, Mona. His life is governed by a personal philosophy of empowerment and upliftment of youths and his commitment to his students, research assistants and other young people with whom he interacts is testimony to this. According to him, “We must always try to open the doors for others, even wider than they were opened for us. That is a part of humanity’s evolution project”.
Ever the social scientist, Dr. Waller is always analysing, deconstructing and searching for hidden meanings in the simplest of conversations as his friends like Dr. Donna Hope, Hume Johnson and Shakira Maxwell attest laughingly. “But of course, he is very supportive and a great friend” Maxwell states. Always cautiously giving advice opening the statement with “cockroach don’t business in fowl fight but from where I am standing...”
In looking back on his journey to this point, Dr. Waller credits his supportive parents (especially is mother), key friends and some important mentors for his achievements. Indeed, if you meet his mother, you will immediately see where Dr. Waller gets his frank, blunt way of delivery which can sometimes be misconstrued as rude. This often prompts friends and close associates to lodge a caveat “But you cannot tell the man that....” His no nonsense approach is credited to his father, a stern man and former Senior Superintendent of Police.
Dr. Waller’s future plans include the development of several new courses to enhance the offerings of the Department of Government, finalising of several research projects which he is currently undertaking, and the publication of his first book on ICT for Development in Jamaica which he believes will have a fundamental impact on development planning in country and possibly the region. In addition, he plans to spearhead a youth development initiative which will include mentoring and scholarship opportunities for at-risk youths from economically deprived situations. He continues to live by his personal philosophy “Always surround yourself with positive people”.