Cherno Omar Barry

Biography

Dr Cherno Omar Barry is the Vice Chancellor/President of the International Open University. He has served as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Defence and at the Office of the President in The Gambia. He holds a B.A. in English from Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Canada; M. A. in Semiology, M.Phil and a PhD in Comparative literature from the University of Limoges, France. Cherno, an Associate Professor of Comparative Literature, taught for eight years at the University of The Gambia before joining the National Commission for UNESCO. He later served for two years as the Gambian representative to UNESCO in Paris, France, before he was appointed on promotion as Permanent Secretary 1, Office of the President. Cherno is an accomplished academic, literary critic, editor and researcher. He is a recipient of several professional and literary awards.