Sol Plaatje University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Debra Meyer as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, with effect from 1 April 2023. She will be responsible for the management of the core academic functions of the University over the next five years.
To fill this position the University sought an outstanding and experienced academic leader who understands the local and international higher education arenas; who has the leadership abilities to devise sophisticated curricular and co-curricular strategies; and who has the capabilities to design and develop innovative systems and approaches in the University context. We are fortunate that Professor Meyer, who meets all these requirements, has agreed to fulfil this role for Sol Plaatje University.
She holds a PhD degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Davis and a Master of Science degree in Biochemistry from the former Rand Afrikaans University (now University of Johannesburg).
Professor Meyer is currently the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Johannesburg, a position she has held since January 2015. She has been instrumental in improving the faculty’s research productivity, in cultivating teaching excellence and in expanding its social responsiveness.
Prior to that she was the Head of Department of Biochemistry at the University of Pretoria where she contributed to increased research publication and postgraduate student output, improved staff transformation and maintained her position as a top research output producer in the Department.
Professor Meyer has written more than 100 academic papers which were published in international peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. She has trained more than 35 Master’s and PhD degree students.
She has been featured in radio and television documentaries and presented the weather on SABC 2 for twelve years, and in 2014 hosted one of Kyknet’s top ten programmes called “Debra deel”.
Debra Meyer is also a social rights activist focusing on HIV/AIDS, women’s rights, multilingualism, and multiculturalism in South Africa.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including an Honorary Award for Outstanding Service in Science and Technology in South Africa; the TW Kambule Senior Black Scientist Award from the NSTF/NRF; and the Rapport and City Press Women of Prestige Award in recognition of her research and community service.
We look forward to welcoming Professor Meyer onto campus in April.
