On Friday November 4th, the parents and a sibling, colleagues and acquaintances along with the Director of the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague, Perry Geerlings, member of the Cabinet Kelly Busby and Rose Leerdam, attended a graduation ceremony at the University of Utrecht, where Dr. Ivy Defoe defended her PhD thesis (“The Puzzle of Adolescent Risk Taking”) with great success.
Dr. Ivy Defoe graduated Cum-Laude from the Developmental Psychology Department of the University of Utrecht and was lauded by the Rector Magnificus, her peers and professors for her great achievements in both her publications and research carried out in the field of adolescent behavioural risks. To name a few of her achievements thus far were her nine 9 literary (research) publications as well as one publication in a heralded Psychology Magazine in the Netherlands.
The Rector Magnificus even mentioned that Dr. Defoe’s achievements are very rare, but so now and then you come across an exceptional graduate, this is one of those scarce occasions, the Rector said.
Director Geerlings congratulated the doctor on behalf of the Government and the People of Sint Maarten on her achievement in his address to those present and deemed Dr. Defoe a true role model, not only to the people and Government of Sint Maarten, but also to her peers.
The Director, having been playing a part in the research process of Dr. Defoe, further stated that he was more than convinced that Dr. Defoe would be not only a source of inspiration to many, but that the works of here research would be of great value to Sint Maarten.
In particular, where the good doctor after finalizing her research in policies and practices in the field of Psychology at the Penn State University, her findings and approaches will greatly benefit her beloved country Sint Maarten.
As a token of admiration and appreciation for her achievements and contributions thus far, the doctor received from the hands of the Director flowers and a pin with the crest of Sint Maarten.