Kenneth O. Hall

Hall was born in Lucea, Jamaica and attended Rusea's High School. Hall holds a Bachelor's Degree in History, a post-graduate diploma in International Relations, and a PhD in History from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Prior to becoming Governor-General, he was a Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. Hall has served in several other positions including:

• Vice President of Academic Affairs and Faculty Dean - State University of New York at Old Westbury 1989-1994
• Assistant Provost for Academic Programmes - State University of New York at Albany 1988-1989
• Assistant Provost - State University of New York at Oswego 1982-1984
• Faculty Research Associate - Syracuse University 1973-1984
• Lecturer - University of the West Indies 1972-1973

He lectured in History at the University of the West Indies and was Professor of History at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego. He was also Adjunct Professor of Caribbean Studies at University at Albany, SUNY in Albany, New York, and Professor of American Studies at State University of New York at Old Westbury.

In 1994, Hall had entered the service of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as Deputy Secretary General. In 1996, he assumed the positions of Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Mona Campus, UWI.

On 13 January 2009, it was announced by the Jamaica Information Service that Hall had resigned as Governor-General of Jamaica, citing health reasons. He was succeeded by Sir Patrick Allen, President of the West Indies Union of Seventh-Day Adventists and Chairman of Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica.

He received the Order of Jamaica, a National Honour, in 2004. He was conferred with Jamaica's second highest national honour, the Order of the Nation, on the occasion of his swearing in. A year and eight months after being appointed Jamaica's fifth Governor-General, Hall was appointed GCMG on 6 November 2007, and received the insignia from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on 30 May 2008.

In 2008, Hall and Lady Rheima Hall received the Collar and Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit of Spain, respectively.[2][3]

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