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Development Studies
Prof Janet Cherry
Head of Department
Janet Cherry is a researcher and activist in the field of sustainable and participatory development. She has an interdisciplinary background in economic history and political sociology, with her qualifications being a PhD in political sociology from Rhodes University and Honours and Masters in Economic History from the University of Cape Town. She has done research in the fields of social and political history, civil society and social movements, political participation, human rights, land, gender and sustainable development. She has worked as a researcher for the HSRC Democracy and Governance programme and the SA Truth and Reconciliation Commission, among others, and as a researcher and trainer in many African countries. She is currently involved in action research on township economies and sustainable development in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, namely the Sustainable Settlement Pilot Project and the Transition Township Project. Her Masters and Doctoral students are working in the fields of food sovereignty, conservation agriculture, land and sustainable livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr Samantha Leonard
Lecturer and Academic Coordinator
Samantha Leonard received her Masters in Geography from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN) in 2005. The focus of her research was on socio-economic development, with specific reference to the relationships between natural resources, LED and local Government in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal. During this time, she also lectured Development Geography at UKZN. In 2011, she completed and submitted her PhD in Education for Sustainable Development, following which she joined the Department of Development Studies, Nelson Mandela University, as a lecturer, researcher and supervisor. Her research interests include people-centered development, sustainable livelihoods and education and development. Sam is passionate about inspiring students to think differently, to question what they have always accepted, and hopefully, to decide to live in such a way that they might make a difference to the world around them. She holds a number of publications in her maiden name, Gardyne. Dr. Leonard is also the coordinator for the Honours in Development Studies programme.
Dr Amanda van den Berg
Dr Amanda van den Berg obtained her PhD in Business Management from the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in 2016. She received her BA, BA Honours and MA degrees from the University of Port Elizabeth in South Africa. She is currently employed and teaches within the Department of Development Studies at Nelson Mandela University. She is involved in the teaching, supervision, research and academic delivery, including the co-ordination of the Masters and Doctoral programmes within the Department. She also offers her services to a number of South African universities as an external examiner/moderator.
Dr Florah Sewela Modiba
Florah has recently joined Nelson Mandela University where she educates, supervises and does research. Her doctoral degree (DLITT ET PHIL) in Development Studies was awarded by UNISA in 2016. Her topic investigated the role of ICTs in rural development. She has been with UNISA since the start of her higher education where she studied Languages and Literature, specialising in creative writing; progressed to an honours degree in Gender Studies; then an MA focusing on female entrepreneurship and ICTs. Prior to joining NMU, she spent eight years in the corporate industry and academia working for companies such as SAP Research and UNISA. She has worked in research and development projects in the areas of health, education, Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), and innovative mobile applications for small and large enterprises. She is passionate about improving the socio-economic conditions of South Africa using research to explore innovative ways of addressing social challenges. Her research and innovation interests are in education; SMMEs; ICT in development; development issues and opportunities; gender issues; and sustainable community and rural development.
Mr Sakhile Phiri
Sakhile M. Phiri graduated with Hons in Economics and Business studies, from University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, in 2006. The subject of his dissertation was macroeconomic policy. He previously worked as an enterprise account manager for Newcastle city council. Mr Phiri graduated from Nelson Mandela University in 2009 after completing his Master research in policing and conflict. He joined the Department of Development Studies as programme co-ordinater and associate lecturer. His current research focuses on enhancing employability, entrepreneurship and youth development within the local labour market. Mr Phiri is also the Programme Coordinator for the BA Development Studies programme.
Dr Bernadette Snow
Ms Bernadette Snow (MSc) is an associate lecturer in the Development Studies Department at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. She has extensive experience in environmental education and currently holds a 4-year grant from the National Research Foundation to manage environmental education initiatives linked to the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme, based at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity.
Ms Danai Tembo
Danai Tembo completed her BSc Environmental Sciences Degree in 2008, majoring in Geosciences and Zoology. She completed her Masters in Development Studies in 2010 and her researched looked at the disparities prevalent in the policing of consumptive and non-consumptive marine activities. She has worked in the Department of Development Studies at Nelson Mandela University since July 2009, first as a student assistant and later as a Programme Coordinator for the Maritime Studies and MA Development Studies programmes. Danai is currently working on her doctoral degree which will look at developing strategies for the improved implementation of the legislation related to the marine environment in South Africa, while working as an associate lecturer for the department and a programme coordinator for the MPhil Development Finance programme.
Ms Lauren Ash
Postgraduate - Academic Assistant
Lauren Ash completed her BA in psychology in 2014, followed by her BA Honours in Development Studies in 2015. She began working in the Department of Development Studies in January 2015, first as a student assistant, and then as a lecturing assistant. She has assisted the coordination of the honours programme and will soon be assisting with the maritime studies programme. Lauren is currently working on her masters by research in Development Studies which is exploring the intergration of development as a concept into higher education instituitions (HEIs).
Ms. Chwayita Kani
Postgraduate - Lecturer
Chwayita Kani completed her BA Development studies degree at Nelson Mandela University in 2014, she went on to complete her BA (Honours) Development Studies degree at NMU in 2015. She has been working in the department since 2012, first as a student assistant and then as a lecturing assistant. She is currently assisting with the coordination of the BA Development Studies undergraduate programme. Chwayita is currently working on her Masters by research in Development Studies degree which will look at the potential effects of Shale Gas Development on the agricultural livelihoods of commercial livestock farmers in the Chris Hani District.
Ms Mareka Mokwatlo
With a professional experience spanning over 15 years, 11 of which were spent as a consultant in various development programmes, coupled with a keen interest in project management for development programmes; Ms Mokwatlo joined the department of Development Studies in 2016 assisting Prof Cherry in coordinating the Research component of the Masters coursework programme. She also coordinates the implementation of the Water Research Commission project for the Department of Economics, and the REDISA project for the Department of Chemistry.
Ms Mareka Mokwatlo holds a BCom Communication Management and a Post-graduate Diploma in Project Management, both obtained from the University of Pretoria. Working extensively in the corporate and NGO sectors she developed a keen affinity for visualising, development and implementation of organisational systems, policies and procedures.
Having obtained her Honours in Development Studies through Mandela University in 2015, she is currently pursuing her full Master’s Degree in Development Studies focusing on context-specific intervention approaches for co-operatives.
Mr Andrew Thuo
Andrew received his BCom degree in Economics and Statistics in 2011 at Nelson Mandela University and is currently completing his MA in Development Studies. His research centres on Development through Sport and he is currently a member of the Nelson Mandela Bay Basketball Association. He has also worked on a number of projects including research for an East London Industrial Development Zone and data analysis for the Department of Human Settlements.
Dr Sareesha Pillay
Sareesha has recently joined the Department of Development Studies as an NRF Post-Doctoral Research Fellow. Her current research includes looking at Global Trends in Interactive Engagement and the development of models for Public Trust and Citizenship in Democracies. Her doctoral degree, D Phil in Public Administration was awarded by Nelson Mandela University in April 2017. Her thesis is entitled “Legislative Prescriptions affecting Persons with Disabilities: A Comparison of Selected Commonwealth Countries”. Comparisons were made between Canada, India, Kenya and South Africa. Prior to joining the Department of Development Studies, Sareesha lectured in the Department of Public Management and Leadership at NMU. She is passionate about education, multidisciplinary research and making a contribution to the sustainable development in South Africa and the African continent. Her research interests include citizenship, democracy and development, good governance, and disability studies.
Prof Frederik Claeye
Prof Naas Ferreira
Prof Jonathan Makuwira
Dr Doreen Atkinson
Dr Mark Ingle
Dr Linje Manyozo
Dr Susan Ziehl
Programme Administrator
Mrs Lindie Van Rensburg
Lindie@nmmu.ac.za
Tel: +27 (0)41 504 2504
Fax: +27 (0)41 504 2826
Prof Mark Anstey
Professor
Prof Gavin Bradshaw
Ms Tafadzwa Chitenderu
Contract lecturer
Prof Ronney Ncwadi
Dr Robert Gerber
Contract Lecturer
Dr Gift Mugano
Dr Deon Pretorius
Mr Msingathi Sipuka
Prof Lyn Snodgrass
Mr Andre Abrahams
Dr Sonwabo Mazinyo
Prof Patrick Vrancken
Dr Jackie Raw
Dr Shireen van Zyl
Lecturer
Ms Lee-Anne Allison
Ms Nomtha Hadi
Mr Rory Haschick
Ms Lynn Jonas
Prof Hendrik Lloyd
Director of school of Development Studies, Economics and Tourism and Professor
Prof Houdini Fourie
Dr Anushka Ramlall
Mr Idriss Mouchili
Mr Andre Nagel
Ms Pauline Schoeman
Ms Emma Hay
Mr Albert Kagande
Mr Siyabulela Mandela
Ms Kholisa Papu