Gladys is a seasoned Public Administrator with over two decades of experience in higher education administration and leadership. She currently serves as Director of Public Affairs at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), bringing extensive institutional experience in strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, international relations, human resource management and higher education administration.
Throughout her career at UCC, she has served in diverse administrative and leadership capacities across academic departments, schools, directorates and the Office of International Relations. These varied assignments have given her a broad understanding of university governance, institutional processes, policy implementation and stakeholder management.
Prior to her appointment as Director of Public Affairs, Gladys rose to the rank of Deputy Registrar and served as Head of the Senior Staff Section in the Directorate of Human Resource. In that role, she facilitated communication between University Management and staff, supported policy implementation and promoted staff engagement. This experience deepened her appreciation of effective internal communication as an important component of employee engagement, organisational effectiveness and institutional reputation.
Gladys also worked in the University’s Office of International Relations, where she contributed to UCC’s internationalisation agenda. She coordinated engagements with international partner institutions and supported international collaborations and exchange programmes. She also facilitated international programmes, conferences and high-level visits, strengthening her competencies in intercultural communication, diplomacy, protocol and relationship management.
In 2017, she became the first woman from the University of Cape Coast and Ghana to be selected as a NAFSA Global Dialogue Fellow. Through the fellowship, she participated in the 2017 and 2018 NAFSA Annual Conferences in the United States, gaining further exposure to international higher education practice and professional networks. In 2018, she also served as a panelist at the African Forum on African Higher Education Internationalization and Partnership Development, where she shared perspectives on internationalisation and strategic partnership development in African higher education.
Throughout her professional career, Gladys has contributed to institutional planning, policy development and stakeholder engagement initiatives. She has prepared strategic reports, proposals, memoranda and other official documents to support institutional decision-making. Her work has brought her into engagement with University leadership, staff, students, alumni, government agencies and international collaborators, enabling her to build productive relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
Known for her strong interpersonal and communication skills, emotional intelligence, sound judgement and professionalism, Gladys approaches leadership with tact, diplomacy and confidence. She is a strategic and forward-looking thinker with a solutions-oriented approach and a strong commitment to teamwork, continuous learning and excellence.
As Director of Public Affairs, her focus is on strengthening the University’s corporate image and reputation through strategic communication, consistent institutional branding, stakeholder engagement, media relations and digital communication. She is particularly interested in leveraging technology and innovative communication approaches to enhance institutional visibility, stakeholder engagement and public trust, while effectively communicating the University’s achievements, impact and aspirations.
Beyond her administrative responsibilities, Gladys is a strong advocate for excellence, personal branding, professional grooming, good manners, respect and courtesy. She regards these as important dimensions of effective communication and institutional representation. She believes that every interaction with a stakeholder contributes to how an institution is perceived and remembered and therefore promotes a culture in which excellence is reflected not only in what is communicated, but also in how people communicate, behave and represent the institution.
Drawing on her experience in administrative leadership, strategic communication, stakeholder engagement and international relations, she is committed to providing effective leadership to the Directorate of Public Affairs and strengthening the University of Cape Coast’s reputation, visibility and institutional profile.
