Prof Sam Tshehla is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Designate: Strategic Initiatives, International and Institutional Affairs, having officially assumed office on 1 April 2026. He is a distinguished academic leader, applied mathematician, and higher education strategist with more than two decades of experience spanning academia, government, and institutional leadership.

His professional career began in 2000 as a junior lecturer of Applied Mathematics at the University of Limpopo, where he contributed to teaching and early-stage academic development. In 2002, he transitioned to the public sector, serving as a flood frequency analyst at the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. In this role, he applied mathematical modelling and statistical analysis to water resource management and flood risk assessment. Prof Tshehla later returned to academia, where he advanced through the ranks to become Senior Lecturer of Mathematics. His leadership trajectory culminated in his appointment as Vice-Dean, and subsequently Dean of the Faculty of Military Science at Stellenbosch University, a position he held until March 2026. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in strengthening academic programmes, enhancing research output, and expanding international collaboration within the faculty. From 2025 to March 2026, he also served as acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs at Stellenbosch University. In this capacity, he led key institutional priorities, including strategic planning, global partnerships, internationalisation, student recruitment strategy, and corporate communication. His leadership contributed significantly to the university’s global positioning and institutional partnerships across government, industry, and academia.

An accomplished scholar in applied mathematics, Prof Tshehla’s research interests include fluid mechanics, thin-film fluid dynamics, and the mathematical modelling of physiological flows, particularly blood flow systems. He has delivered numerous invited lectures and keynote addresses within the security and defence sector, both nationally and internationally, contributing to leadership development and governance discourse across Africa and beyond.

Prof Tshehla holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Cape Town, an MSc in Applied Mathematics (cum laude) from the University of Limpopo, and recently completed a Master of Business Administration (Executive) at the University of Cape Town, with a focus on leadership effectiveness in higher education institutions.