Renowned author and social scientist Professor Selwyn Ryan has died at 86 years old, after being ill for some time.

He died at his home late Saturday night.

Ryan, 86, had an expansive academic career, earning a Phd in Political Science from Cornell University (1966) and a BA in History from the University of Toronto (1960).

He was also  a Professor Emeritus at the University of the West Indies’ St Augustine Campus.

Over his career he taught at York University in Toronto, the University of Ghana, Makerere University in Uganda and in the Department of Government of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad. At the latter, he was Departmental Head from 1976 to 1979

He has also been a member of two Constitutional Commissions established by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, Deputy Chairman of the Caribbean Press Council and President of Caribbean Studies Association (1989 – 1990). He has also been the University Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Studies, University of the West Indies. He has been the Director of the St. Augustine Branch of the Institute from 1986 to 2003.