USM Celebrates Historic First Public Ph.D. Defense
October 20, 2025
The University of St. Martin made history with its first-ever public Ph.D. defense, as Architectural Engineer Aga Kus successfully defended her dissertation on resilient housing for St. Martin. The landmark event drew dignitaries, scholars, and community leaders in celebration of local academic exce
The University of St. Martin (USM) made history on Friday, September 17, with the institution’s, and the country’s first-ever public Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) defense. The event, attended by nearly 40 guests, marked a significant academic milestone for USM and for higher education in St. Martin.
Commencing sharply at 4:45 PM, the ceremonial proceedings began with an academic procession led by a beadle carrying the staff of office an emblem of academic authority that blended Dutch university traditions with Caribbean flair. Architectural Engineer Aga Kus, a doctoral candidate at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands, presented and defended her dissertation titled “Affordable and Future Resilient Housing for the Island of St. Martin (North and South).”
Kus’ research was conducted within the framework of the Island(er)s at the Helm program, a collaborative initiative between the Royal Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV) and the University of St. Martin, funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). Over a four-year period, Kus visited the island multiple times, immersing herself in the local culture and gaining deep insight into self-organized housing practices on both sides of the island.
The defense was conducted in two parts. The academic segment featured a formal examination in which Kus responded to a series of critical questions posed by her supervisory committee. The public roundtable dialogue that followed brought together key stakeholders from government and civil society, fostering open discussion on the relevance of Kus’ findings for housing policy and community resilience in St. Martin.
The academic committee was chaired by USM President Professor Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez, who also served as Kus’ local supervisor. Other members included Drs. Raymond Jessurun, USM Research Coordinator and field advisor; Dr. Nelson Mota, co-promotor from TU Delft, who was present on island; and Professor Dr. Ellen van Bueren of TU Delft, who joined virtually from the Netherlands. The candidate’s parents proudly tuned in online from her native Poland.
Invited participants in the roundtable included representatives of VROMI, the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, and the Sint Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF). Though a well-known local contractor was scheduled to join the discussion, he was unable to attend due to illness.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Member of Parliament Ludmila de Weever, Member of Parliament Dimar Labega, and former Minister of Justice Anna Richardson, whose presence underscored the growing recognition of the role research plays in shaping public policy and national development.
Also present was Mrs. Valerie Giterson-Pantophlet, Chair of the University of St. Martin Foundation (BUSMF) Board of Directors, who praised the achievement as a defining moment in USM’s academic evolution:
“On behalf of the BUSMF, I express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to President Dr. Carmona Báez and the entire USM team, as well as to Dr. Francio Guadeloupe, for today’s historic milestone—the first Ph.D. defense at USM. We celebrate this remarkable achievement as we take USM one step closer to realizing its highest academic aspirations. Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Aga Kus for opening the door to future scholars and inspiring excellence in all who follow.”
The ceremony concluded with the traditional laudatio, delivered by Professor Dr. Carmona Báez, and the presentation of a Certificate of Recommendation from USM to TU Delft, affirming that Kus had met all academic requirements, published peer-reviewed research, and meaningfully engaged with the local community. TU Delft will confer the doctoral title Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Architecture upon completion of the formal defense in the Netherlands.
Reflecting on the event, Dr. Carmona Báez stated:
“This defense represents a new chapter for USM as a center for knowledge creation and applied research in the Caribbean. It demonstrates that our small island institution can serve as an intellectual hub where international scholarship meets local expertise and community engagement.”
The University of St. Martin anticipates hosting its next public Ph.D. defense in approximately four years, when a new doctoral researcher sponsored by the Dutch Research Council begins work in August 2026.
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Commencing sharply at 4:45 PM, the ceremonial proceedings began with an academic procession led by a beadle carrying the staff of office an emblem of academic authority that blended Dutch university traditions with Caribbean flair. Architectural Engineer Aga Kus, a doctoral candidate at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands, presented and defended her dissertation titled “Affordable and Future Resilient Housing for the Island of St. Martin (North and South).”
Kus’ research was conducted within the framework of the Island(er)s at the Helm program, a collaborative initiative between the Royal Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV) and the University of St. Martin, funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). Over a four-year period, Kus visited the island multiple times, immersing herself in the local culture and gaining deep insight into self-organized housing practices on both sides of the island.
The defense was conducted in two parts. The academic segment featured a formal examination in which Kus responded to a series of critical questions posed by her supervisory committee. The public roundtable dialogue that followed brought together key stakeholders from government and civil society, fostering open discussion on the relevance of Kus’ findings for housing policy and community resilience in St. Martin.
The academic committee was chaired by USM President Professor Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez, who also served as Kus’ local supervisor. Other members included Drs. Raymond Jessurun, USM Research Coordinator and field advisor; Dr. Nelson Mota, co-promotor from TU Delft, who was present on island; and Professor Dr. Ellen van Bueren of TU Delft, who joined virtually from the Netherlands. The candidate’s parents proudly tuned in online from her native Poland.
Invited participants in the roundtable included representatives of VROMI, the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, and the Sint Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF). Though a well-known local contractor was scheduled to join the discussion, he was unable to attend due to illness.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Member of Parliament Ludmila de Weever, Member of Parliament Dimar Labega, and former Minister of Justice Anna Richardson, whose presence underscored the growing recognition of the role research plays in shaping public policy and national development.
Also present was Mrs. Valerie Giterson-Pantophlet, Chair of the University of St. Martin Foundation (BUSMF) Board of Directors, who praised the achievement as a defining moment in USM’s academic evolution:
“On behalf of the BUSMF, I express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to President Dr. Carmona Báez and the entire USM team, as well as to Dr. Francio Guadeloupe, for today’s historic milestone—the first Ph.D. defense at USM. We celebrate this remarkable achievement as we take USM one step closer to realizing its highest academic aspirations. Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Aga Kus for opening the door to future scholars and inspiring excellence in all who follow.”
The ceremony concluded with the traditional laudatio, delivered by Professor Dr. Carmona Báez, and the presentation of a Certificate of Recommendation from USM to TU Delft, affirming that Kus had met all academic requirements, published peer-reviewed research, and meaningfully engaged with the local community. TU Delft will confer the doctoral title Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Architecture upon completion of the formal defense in the Netherlands.
Reflecting on the event, Dr. Carmona Báez stated:
“This defense represents a new chapter for USM as a center for knowledge creation and applied research in the Caribbean. It demonstrates that our small island institution can serve as an intellectual hub where international scholarship meets local expertise and community engagement.”
The University of St. Martin anticipates hosting its next public Ph.D. defense in approximately four years, when a new doctoral researcher sponsored by the Dutch Research Council begins work in August 2026.
Latest News →
