Prof Charles hailed as incredibly prolific, deeply analytical
Published:Tuesday | November 4, 2025 | 12:11 AMErica Virtue/Senior Gleaner Writer
Former colleagues of the late Professor Christopher Andre Duane Charles, who died last week, are remembering him as a brilliant academic and fearless researcher whose incisive commentary and deep analyses shaped thr understanding of Caribbean society.
His colleagues described him as an accomplished and brilliant academic, a prolific researcher with a deep understanding of human behaviour; a knowledgeable and deep thinker, who was resolute in his views, while appreciative of others, and believing firmly that all ideas should contend.
Dr Lisa Vasciannie, head of the Department of Government at The University of the West Indies (UWI), said his death was an immeasurable loss, noting: “Charles’ intellectual legacy is vast and deeply rooted in the Caribbean’s social and political landscape. His teaching and research spanned political psychology, social identity and body modification, psychology and law, crime and violence, sexuality, and popular culture. He was a fearless scholar, unafraid to interrogate difficult truths and illuminate the complexities of Caribbean society through rigorous, interdisciplinary inquiry.”
She noted that his UWI journey began in the early 1990s as a student in the Master of Science in Government programme. Over the decades, he rose to become professor of political and social psychology, “earning admiration for his sharp intellect, methodological precision, and unwavering commitment to truth”.
A BRIDGE, CORNERSTONE
She added: “He regarded himself as a bridge between the foundational work of the late Professor Carl Stone and contemporary scientific approaches to understanding politics, race, and violence in the region.”
Calling him a “cornerstone of the Faculty of Social Sciences”, Vasciannie noted that he served as professor-in-residence at the Annual Research Writers’ Retreat and chaired the Principal’s Awards Research Day Subcommittee. In 2025, he was named the faculty’s Most Outstanding Researcher, having published four impactful articles in the 2023–2024 academic year.
“His recent works explored topics ranging from child sexual abuse in Jamaica, cannabis identity formation, and post-colonial trauma in youth sports to election forecasting in the Caribbean; all reflecting his deep concern and angst for justice, representation, and healing,” she said.
She described him as a “generous mentor” who led the department’s Writers’ and Publishing Circle “with characteristic enthusiasm and sharp intellect”. His mentorship also extended beyond the university through Fathers’ Incorporated, “where he helped guide and empower men to embrace their roles as fathers and community leaders”.
Beyond academia, Vasciannie said, “Professor Charles was a devoted father, partner, sibling, son, and friend who was immensely proud of his Kingston College roots and carried that pride into every facet of his life. His absence leaves a void that words cannot fill.”
Dr Basil Wilson, retired provost of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, remembered him as “incredibly productive and prolific”, adding, “I know no other scholar that I have met that has been more productive and prolific than Professor Christopher Charles.”
“I hired Chris when at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, when I was a provost there. And when I retired from John Jay and went to Monroe College (now Monroe University), I also hired Chris in the Graduate Department in Criminal Justice. So we had that twin relationship,” Wilson told The Gleaner.
Dr Dennis Howard, his close friend, said through tears, “If you had Christopher as a friend, you had a deep connection with someone you would have for life.”
Dr Maziki Thame of The UWI noted that “Charles contributed to Caribbean political science with his orientation to political psychology”, and that his work “opens the discourse to further research and debate”.
Professor Charles is survived by his son, Yaron, a student at The UWI.