The University of the West Indies’ 2026 graduation theme, “Built to Adapt, Ready to Lead,” finds a powerful expression in the life of Dr. Thea LaFond-Gadson

Dr. Thea LaFond: Built to Adapt, Ready to Lead

The University of the West Indies' 2026 graduation theme, "Built to Adapt, Ready to Lead," finds a powerful expression in the life of Dr. Thea LaFond-Gadson. On October 10, Dominica's Olympic champion received an honorary Doctor of Laws at the Five Islands Campus, recognising her outstanding contribution to sport.

Born in Dominica and raised in the United States after migrating at age five, Thea learned to navigate change while maintaining her connection to home. Her early involvement in dance eventually opened a path to athletics, taking her from school competition to a scholarship at the University of Maryland and the international stage.

Her story shows what adaptation demands: difficult choices, discipline and the courage to keep improving. After winning the 2024 World Indoor triple jump title, she faced a serious knee injury that threatened her Olympic ambitions. She went on to win gold in Paris with a national-record leap of 15.02 metres, securing Dominica's first Olympic medal.

Thea's life offers a lesson for every graduate and young Dominican: circumstances may change, but purpose can remain steady. Her example gives young people reason to believe that their beginnings need not limit their ambitions.

As Dr. Thea LaFond-Gadson, she carries that message into another chapter—showing how the ability to adapt can prepare a person to lead, inspire and create possibilities for others.