Meet Ricardo P. Deveaux - Visionary Leader, Community Activist, Motivational Speaker
Ricardo P. Deveaux is a graduate of the public school system in The Bahamas, completing R. M. Bailey Senior High School in 1985. He is a 1990 graduate of Bethune-Cookman College (now University) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology with honours and a 1992 graduate of Nova Southeastern University with Master of Science Degree in Human Services with a specialization in Human Resource Management.
In May 2009, he delivered the commencement address at Bethune-Cookman University and was awarded the Honourary Doctorate of Humane Letters. He is only the second Bahamian and one of the youngest individuals in recent years to deliver the coveted commencement address at Bethune-Cookman University. Ricardo was following in the footsteps of individuals like the late Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, Former Prime Minister and Founding Father of The Bahamas, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, Bill Cosby, Dr. Ben Carson, Governor Bob Martinez, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jim Williams, Earl Graves and Cecily Tyson, serving as BCU Commencement Speakers.
In the Summer of 2012, He was awarded a Fellowship by The Chinese Government to attend the prestigious Peking University, School of Political Development and Governance in Beijing, China. He awarded a Certificate in Public Administration. He had the honour of being selected to deliver the Closing Address on behalf of the participants in course.
He has been employed with the Bahamas Government since September 1992. He is currently attached to the Ministry of Education in an administrative capacity as a Deputy Permanent Secretary. His previous posting include: The Ministry of Labour; the Ministry of the Public Service, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister & Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture, where he served as the Officer in Charge of the SelfStarters Youth Entrepreneurial Grant Fund; the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of National Security (The Royal Bahamas Police Force) and the Ministry of Education.
In August 2008, Ricardo was identified by Mr. Wendell G. Major - Secretary of The Cabinet for The Bahamas Government to participate in a four month rotation (September – December 2008) at The Cabinet Office. During this period, he sat in on the weekly meetings with the Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, M.P. and his Cabinet Ministers. An opportunity which has only been granted to selected group of public officers. He was appointed and served on the National Advisory Council for Education between October 2010 - June 2012.
Yearning to impact his community and his country, Ricardo was instrumental in the establishment of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program, a premier awards scheme in The Bahamas. The Awards Program was established in 1997. He currently serves as President & Chief Executive Office of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation, a non-profit volunteer organization, which oversees the governance of the Awards Program. Under his leadership, the Awards Program have recognized over 3,200 of the BEST and BRIGHTEST primary school students and awarded over $3 Million Dollars worth of scholarships and prizes. Since 2007, Ricardo has personally led the campaign to track the former nominees in The Awards Program. To date, he has tracked more than 60% of the former nominees and serves as a mentor to many of them.
He is the former Student Body President at Bethune-Cookman College (now University) (1989-90) and the Resident Student Body President Nova Southeastern University (1991-92). His awards and honors include: Most Outstanding Freshman; Most Outstanding Sophomore; Most Outstanding Junior; Most Outstanding Senior and Student of the Year (1989/90) at Bethune-Cookman College; One of only seven finalists in the 1992 Florida College Student of the Year Awards Program, where he was the only black and only male to make the finals in 1992 and became the first student from Nova Southeastern University to make it to the finals; the Ricardo Deveaux Award at Nova Southeastern University, an annual award established in 1992 in his honor; 2004 Finalists - the First Caribbean International Bank – Bahamas Unsung Hero Award; the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council - first recipient of the Bahamas Greek Hall of Fame - 2005; the Bahamas Faith Ministries International – Distinguished Youth Leader Award 2006 presented by Dr. Myles Munroe, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter – 2006 Centennial Brother of the Year, the Distinguished Service Medal for serving on the Senior Leadership Team of the 32nd General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - 2008; the Mt. Carmel Preparatory Academy - Award of Excellence 2010 and the Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries - Distinguished Male Leadership Award - 2011. He is a Certified Youth Leader with the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture. In 2013, He was selected as the winner of The Black Man Can Awards in the category of K-12 Education for his work with The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program. (First International Recipient to capture this Award). In November 2013, he was inducted in the first class of the R. M. Bailey Senior High School - Hall of Fame. In May 2016, he was announced as a Finalists for The Bahamian Icon Awards in the Area of Youth Development. In October 2019, he received the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture - Louise Simmons Youth Ally Award (Youth Leader of the Year Award) and in December 2019, He was one of three individuals to receive the Hubert Edwards Global Leadership Award. Both of his last two awards were for his contribution to The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program. In October 2023, he was given a National Award from The Government of The Bahamas - Order of Distinction - Companion (C.D.).
His community involvement includes serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Deputy Chair, National Training Agency; The One Bahamas Foundation; Greenville Preparatory Academy; National Tripartite Council. He is a former Board member of the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys, Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries Academy, the Ranfurly Home for Children (Orphanage); former Director, Consumer Protection Commission; former Chairman, School Board, R. M. Bailey Senior High School; former Vice-President, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Queen's College; former Vice-President, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of St. Thomas Catholic Primary School and former Vice-President, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Gleniston Learning Center (Pre-School).
He was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on March 9th, 1988 at the Delta Beta Chapter (Bethune-Cookman University). He has been a member of the Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter (Local Graduate Chapter since July 1990). He is a Life Member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He has been active and financial with the Fraternity since 1988. His fraternal leadership included serving as the Local Graduate Chapter President (2000-2003); Under his leadership the chapter experienced its highest national financially active brothers on the membership roll and the chapter held its historic membership intake. The first was in 1990 and the second was held in October 2000. When the Bahamas was created as an Area under the Florida Federation of Alpha Chapters in 2002, Ricardo became the first Bahamas Area Director (2002-2009). On January 1st, 2005, he was appointed by 32nd General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Bro. Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. as Chairman, International Brothers Affairs (2005-2008). He became the first Bahamian from the Local Graduate Chapter to serve on the senior international leadership team. On January 1st, 2013, Ricardo received his second international fraternal appointment as a Member, International Standing Committee on Human Resources by the 34th General President Mark Tillman and served from 2013-2016. On January 1st, 2017, Ricardo received his third international fraternal appointment as a Member, International Standing Committee on Publications by the 35th General President Dr. Everett Ward and served from 2017-2021.
Ricardo also made a significant contribution in the Inter-Fraternal Movement. In February 1995, he led the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council, the local coalition of Fraternities and Sororities, as its Charter President of the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council. The Council being the first international council chartered by the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). In 1998, he was elected as Assistant Regional Director, NPHC Southern Region, becoming the first Bahamian to serve on the NPHC Regional Executive Board. In 1999, he made history in the NPHC movement, becoming the first international council member and one of the youngest members, at the age of 31, to serve as National First Vice-President in the million-member organization. He served as the NPHC's second in command from 1999 - 2003.
Ricardo's quest in leadership continued in 2009, when he led a group of Bethune-Cookman University Graduates in reorganizing the Nassau, Bahamas Alumni Chapter. He became the Charter President of the Bethune-Cookman University, Nassau, Bahamas Alumni Chapter, the first international alumni chapter to be chartered by the National Alumni Association of the University. In October 2010, he accomplished another first in leadership. He was the first Bahamian graduate to be appointed to the Bethune-Cookman University - Associate Board of Trustees. In June 2011, he led the Nassau, Bahamas Alumni Chapter in hosting the University's first National Alumni Convention to be held outside of the United States of America. The convention was dubbed as one of the best organized and saw an increased in the number of participants.
Ricardo has used the world wide web to address critical issues facing our respective communities. He is the creator of an interactive online memorial site for deceased Bethune-Cookman University Students; Alumni and Staff members (16) Remembering our Departed Bethune-Cookman Wildcat Family Members | Facebook. This network brought together over 2,500 individuals who came together to remember fallen colleagues. In addition, he is the creator of Education Spotlight ( www.facebook.com/BJC.BGCSE.NationalAwards/), an interactive platform which showcase outstanding students in primary school, high school and college. There are over 2,500 followers on this platform.
In November 2011, Ricardo was highlighted by The Black Man Can Organization (http://theblackmancan.org) as an EXTRAordinary Black Male. He was the first individual selected to be recognized by the organization from outside of the United States of America.
Giving Credit
Ricardo credits Junior Achievement for assisting in the development of his leadership skills, building his self confidence and his passion to assist in the development of young people. He entered JA in 1983 and served as Vice-President of Production. During his senior year in high school, he was elected President of his JA Company and Treasurer of the Achievers Association. He represented The Bahamas at the National Junior Achievement Conference in Bloomington, Indiana in 1984 and 1985. After completing the program, he returned as a Junior Advisor, Advisor and then Executive Advisor. In 1987, he organized the first Past Junior Achievers Conference which brought together JA Alumnus to assist in strengthening the JA Alumni Association.
Family
He is married to Pamela J. Deveaux, nee Cunningham, a Chartered Accountant. They are the proud parents of two daughters - Richea Juanita and Paige Aaliyah Deveaux. He is the eldest son of Edward & Beverly Deveaux. Ricardo and his family worships at St George's Anglican Church.
In May 2009, he delivered the commencement address at Bethune-Cookman University and was awarded the Honourary Doctorate of Humane Letters. He is only the second Bahamian and one of the youngest individuals in recent years to deliver the coveted commencement address at Bethune-Cookman University. Ricardo was following in the footsteps of individuals like the late Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, Former Prime Minister and Founding Father of The Bahamas, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, Bill Cosby, Dr. Ben Carson, Governor Bob Martinez, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jim Williams, Earl Graves and Cecily Tyson, serving as BCU Commencement Speakers.
In the Summer of 2012, He was awarded a Fellowship by The Chinese Government to attend the prestigious Peking University, School of Political Development and Governance in Beijing, China. He awarded a Certificate in Public Administration. He had the honour of being selected to deliver the Closing Address on behalf of the participants in course.
He has been employed with the Bahamas Government since September 1992. He is currently attached to the Ministry of Education in an administrative capacity as a Deputy Permanent Secretary. His previous posting include: The Ministry of Labour; the Ministry of the Public Service, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister & Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture, where he served as the Officer in Charge of the SelfStarters Youth Entrepreneurial Grant Fund; the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of National Security (The Royal Bahamas Police Force) and the Ministry of Education.
In August 2008, Ricardo was identified by Mr. Wendell G. Major - Secretary of The Cabinet for The Bahamas Government to participate in a four month rotation (September – December 2008) at The Cabinet Office. During this period, he sat in on the weekly meetings with the Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, M.P. and his Cabinet Ministers. An opportunity which has only been granted to selected group of public officers. He was appointed and served on the National Advisory Council for Education between October 2010 - June 2012.
Yearning to impact his community and his country, Ricardo was instrumental in the establishment of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program, a premier awards scheme in The Bahamas. The Awards Program was established in 1997. He currently serves as President & Chief Executive Office of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation, a non-profit volunteer organization, which oversees the governance of the Awards Program. Under his leadership, the Awards Program have recognized over 3,200 of the BEST and BRIGHTEST primary school students and awarded over $3 Million Dollars worth of scholarships and prizes. Since 2007, Ricardo has personally led the campaign to track the former nominees in The Awards Program. To date, he has tracked more than 60% of the former nominees and serves as a mentor to many of them.
He is the former Student Body President at Bethune-Cookman College (now University) (1989-90) and the Resident Student Body President Nova Southeastern University (1991-92). His awards and honors include: Most Outstanding Freshman; Most Outstanding Sophomore; Most Outstanding Junior; Most Outstanding Senior and Student of the Year (1989/90) at Bethune-Cookman College; One of only seven finalists in the 1992 Florida College Student of the Year Awards Program, where he was the only black and only male to make the finals in 1992 and became the first student from Nova Southeastern University to make it to the finals; the Ricardo Deveaux Award at Nova Southeastern University, an annual award established in 1992 in his honor; 2004 Finalists - the First Caribbean International Bank – Bahamas Unsung Hero Award; the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council - first recipient of the Bahamas Greek Hall of Fame - 2005; the Bahamas Faith Ministries International – Distinguished Youth Leader Award 2006 presented by Dr. Myles Munroe, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter – 2006 Centennial Brother of the Year, the Distinguished Service Medal for serving on the Senior Leadership Team of the 32nd General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - 2008; the Mt. Carmel Preparatory Academy - Award of Excellence 2010 and the Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries - Distinguished Male Leadership Award - 2011. He is a Certified Youth Leader with the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture. In 2013, He was selected as the winner of The Black Man Can Awards in the category of K-12 Education for his work with The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program. (First International Recipient to capture this Award). In November 2013, he was inducted in the first class of the R. M. Bailey Senior High School - Hall of Fame. In May 2016, he was announced as a Finalists for The Bahamian Icon Awards in the Area of Youth Development. In October 2019, he received the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture - Louise Simmons Youth Ally Award (Youth Leader of the Year Award) and in December 2019, He was one of three individuals to receive the Hubert Edwards Global Leadership Award. Both of his last two awards were for his contribution to The Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Awards Program. In October 2023, he was given a National Award from The Government of The Bahamas - Order of Distinction - Companion (C.D.).
His community involvement includes serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Deputy Chair, National Training Agency; The One Bahamas Foundation; Greenville Preparatory Academy; National Tripartite Council. He is a former Board member of the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys, Golden Gates World Outreach Ministries Academy, the Ranfurly Home for Children (Orphanage); former Director, Consumer Protection Commission; former Chairman, School Board, R. M. Bailey Senior High School; former Vice-President, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Queen's College; former Vice-President, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of St. Thomas Catholic Primary School and former Vice-President, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Gleniston Learning Center (Pre-School).
He was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on March 9th, 1988 at the Delta Beta Chapter (Bethune-Cookman University). He has been a member of the Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter (Local Graduate Chapter since July 1990). He is a Life Member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He has been active and financial with the Fraternity since 1988. His fraternal leadership included serving as the Local Graduate Chapter President (2000-2003); Under his leadership the chapter experienced its highest national financially active brothers on the membership roll and the chapter held its historic membership intake. The first was in 1990 and the second was held in October 2000. When the Bahamas was created as an Area under the Florida Federation of Alpha Chapters in 2002, Ricardo became the first Bahamas Area Director (2002-2009). On January 1st, 2005, he was appointed by 32nd General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Bro. Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. as Chairman, International Brothers Affairs (2005-2008). He became the first Bahamian from the Local Graduate Chapter to serve on the senior international leadership team. On January 1st, 2013, Ricardo received his second international fraternal appointment as a Member, International Standing Committee on Human Resources by the 34th General President Mark Tillman and served from 2013-2016. On January 1st, 2017, Ricardo received his third international fraternal appointment as a Member, International Standing Committee on Publications by the 35th General President Dr. Everett Ward and served from 2017-2021.
Ricardo also made a significant contribution in the Inter-Fraternal Movement. In February 1995, he led the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council, the local coalition of Fraternities and Sororities, as its Charter President of the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council. The Council being the first international council chartered by the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). In 1998, he was elected as Assistant Regional Director, NPHC Southern Region, becoming the first Bahamian to serve on the NPHC Regional Executive Board. In 1999, he made history in the NPHC movement, becoming the first international council member and one of the youngest members, at the age of 31, to serve as National First Vice-President in the million-member organization. He served as the NPHC's second in command from 1999 - 2003.
Ricardo's quest in leadership continued in 2009, when he led a group of Bethune-Cookman University Graduates in reorganizing the Nassau, Bahamas Alumni Chapter. He became the Charter President of the Bethune-Cookman University, Nassau, Bahamas Alumni Chapter, the first international alumni chapter to be chartered by the National Alumni Association of the University. In October 2010, he accomplished another first in leadership. He was the first Bahamian graduate to be appointed to the Bethune-Cookman University - Associate Board of Trustees. In June 2011, he led the Nassau, Bahamas Alumni Chapter in hosting the University's first National Alumni Convention to be held outside of the United States of America. The convention was dubbed as one of the best organized and saw an increased in the number of participants.
Ricardo has used the world wide web to address critical issues facing our respective communities. He is the creator of an interactive online memorial site for deceased Bethune-Cookman University Students; Alumni and Staff members (16) Remembering our Departed Bethune-Cookman Wildcat Family Members | Facebook. This network brought together over 2,500 individuals who came together to remember fallen colleagues. In addition, he is the creator of Education Spotlight ( www.facebook.com/BJC.BGCSE.NationalAwards/), an interactive platform which showcase outstanding students in primary school, high school and college. There are over 2,500 followers on this platform.
In November 2011, Ricardo was highlighted by The Black Man Can Organization (http://theblackmancan.org) as an EXTRAordinary Black Male. He was the first individual selected to be recognized by the organization from outside of the United States of America.
Giving Credit
Ricardo credits Junior Achievement for assisting in the development of his leadership skills, building his self confidence and his passion to assist in the development of young people. He entered JA in 1983 and served as Vice-President of Production. During his senior year in high school, he was elected President of his JA Company and Treasurer of the Achievers Association. He represented The Bahamas at the National Junior Achievement Conference in Bloomington, Indiana in 1984 and 1985. After completing the program, he returned as a Junior Advisor, Advisor and then Executive Advisor. In 1987, he organized the first Past Junior Achievers Conference which brought together JA Alumnus to assist in strengthening the JA Alumni Association.
Family
He is married to Pamela J. Deveaux, nee Cunningham, a Chartered Accountant. They are the proud parents of two daughters - Richea Juanita and Paige Aaliyah Deveaux. He is the eldest son of Edward & Beverly Deveaux. Ricardo and his family worships at St George's Anglican Church.
Ricardo & Pamela Deveaux
The Deveaux Family - Ricardo, Pamela, Richea and Paige
The Pride & Joy of The Deveaux Family - Richea Juanita and Paige Aaliyah
The Deveaux Family - August 2019
The Deveaux Family Vacation - August 2015
