Celebrating International Women’s Day: SGU Grad Rachqueda Salfarlie on Pursuing Passions and Achieving Success
Rachqueda Salfarlie, MEd ’23, MBA ’15, BSc ’11, initially envisioned a career in banking. Her first job at a local bank seemed like the beginning of a long-term path in finance. However, a decision to shift her career into higher education ignited a passion in her to truly make a meaningful impact on student success.
Rachqueda works in St. George’s University’s Office of the Dean of the School of Medicine. As a coordinator in the School’s Curriculum Evaluation and Assessment Division (CEAD), Rachqueda gets to use her analytical skills from her many years at SGU to make an impact. The division functions as the central hub for data and analytics within the School of Medicine, driving data-informed improvements across the curriculum, student support systems, and the evaluation of student performance.
In her position, Rachqueda plays a key role in maintaining SGU’s School of Medicine accreditation standards, driving continuous quality improvement, and ultimately enhancing student success.
“I am passionate about data analysis and uncovering trends that provide meaningful insights,” she said. “Knowing that my work contributes to student success, even from behind the scenes, is incredibly rewarding. My favorite part of my job is identifying opportunities for improvement—whether in processes or reporting methods—and I fully embrace innovation.”
Early career at SGU
Rachqueda’s career began 13 years ago after earning a degree in Management Information Systems from SGU’s School of Arts and Sciences. She initially worked in banking before joining SGU as an assistant coordinator in the Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) and Examination Services, where she spent nearly seven years. During this time, she played a key role in transitioning SGU from paper-based to digital exams in 2012. Passionate about leadership and innovation, she pursued an MBA in Multi-Sector Health Management from SGU’s School of Graduate Studies. Her work in course and instructor evaluations at OIA led her to transition to the Office of the Dean in the School of Medicine.
“I moved beyond administering evaluations to conducting both qualitative and quantitative analyses,” explained Rachqueda. “I was now assessing the learning environment and evaluating institutional resources. My background proved invaluable in this analytical work.”
“My degrees from SGU provided a strong foundation, allowing me to advance to a PhD program and thrive in my career. SGU has been more than just a university—it has been a transformative environment that has shaped both my academic and professional growth.”
To deepen her expertise in curriculum design and pedagogy, Rachqueda pursued a Master of Education at SGU, where she discovered her passion for education and higher education administration. This led her to enroll in a PhD program in higher education administration with a focus on assessment and evaluation at Liberty University.
“Each role I’ve held at SGU has played a crucial part in shaping my career,” she said. “Whether ensuring students had the technical support they needed for exams, overseeing evaluation processes, or analyzing performance data, my work has always been driven by a commitment to student success. Looking back, I can now see how every experience aligned to prepare me for where I am today.”
Keys to success
While balancing full-time work and full-time study can be challenging, Rachqueda attributes her success to her ability to remain focused despite setbacks, manage her time effectively, and maintain efficiency in her work.
“My key takeaways to achieving success are to be consistent yet curious,” said Rachqueda. “To actively seek knowledge in your degree programs and pursue mentorship from visionaries in the field. In other words, find your passion and maintain a growth mindset.”
In addition to being named SGU’s School of Graduate Studies class speaker after achieving a 4.0 GPA in 2023, Rachqueda has also co-authored a research publication on combating imposter feelings among physicians and medical students. In collaboration with SOM faculty members, Drs. Krystal Rampersad, Arlette Herry, and Michael Montalbano, Rachqueda was able to contribute research to support physicians and medical students as they navigate the challenges of imposter syndrome.
“The experience of conducting this research was incredibly rewarding, as I enjoy academic writing and collaborating with others,” shared Rachqueda. “What inspired me the most was the opportunity to contribute to a journal article that we believe will provide valuable insights and benefit our colleagues in the field.”
Celebrating International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8. It is a day where women around the world join hands in solidarity to advocate for key issues affecting them, like gender equality. This year’s theme is ‘Accelerate Action.’
Feeling a sense of pride at all she has accomplished so far, Rachqueda offered advice and words of encouragement to other women navigating their own academic and professional goals, and the challenges that go with them.
“You are resilient, capable, and deserving of success,” she said. “It’s okay to take breaks, to ask for help, and to acknowledge your struggles. Your journey is your own, and every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. Stay committed to your goals, embrace learning, and never underestimate the power of perseverance.”
As part of her own career aspirations, Rachqueda hopes to use her skills in a way to give back to her home country, Grenada, while also contributing to student success at SGU. In the future, Rachqueda hopes to publish more journal articles on medical education and present at international conferences to share her knowledge and contribute to the field.
“My degrees from SGU provided a strong foundation, allowing me to advance to a PhD program and thrive in my career. SGU has been more than just a university—it has been a transformative environment that has shaped both my academic and professional growth.”
– Ray-Donna Peters
