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06 January 2025 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Supplied
Prof Solomon Werta
Prof Solomon Werta, UFS alumnus and Vice-President: Administration and Development at Dire Dawa University, continues to inspire as one of Ethiopia's youngest leaders in higher education.

Throughout the progression of his career, the UFS alumnus, Prof Solomon Werta – Vice-President: Administration and Development at the Dire Dawa University (DDU) – has been the ‘youngest’ to occupy positions of leadership in several instances. 

In fact, the DDU appointed Prof Werta as Vice-President: Research and Community Service in 2020, making him the youngest vice-president of any public university in Ethiopia. According to Prof Werta, when it comes to senior management roles in universities and government, the norm is that the positions are held by middle-aged, mature leaders. However, after a unanimous vote by senate members at the university, he assumed that role at the age of 31. “Holding such a senior position at that age makes me a role model not only for a generation of young people, but for those at the University of the Free State who may be following my career,” Prof Werta stated. 

What the role entailed 

As Vice-President: Research and Community Service, he was responsible for driving research, innovation, technology transfer, community engagement, and growth within the institution and the community at large. As such, some of his highlights within this role include establishing a university community radio station to serve both the university and the Dire Dawa community, establishing new university journals such as the Harla journal, and establishing a nationally accredited institutional review board, among others. 

He occupied this role until November 2023 when he was promoted to his current role as Vice-President: Administration and Development at the DDU. Prof Werta credits this most recent promotion to the dedication and hard work he put into his previous role, as well as the knowledge and experience he acquired during his time at the UFS. 

In recognition of his work as a researcher within the Department of Physics at the DDU, Prof Werta was also promoted to Associate Professor in Physics. As a result, he indicates that he can be regarded as the youngest associate professor of physics in Ethiopia. Therefore, he continues to contribute to his institution and beyond on these accounts. 

What the future holds 

Prof Werta indicated that he plans on continuing to make strides as his career progresses, particularly in his role as Vice-President: Administration and Development. “I’d like to focus on increasing the university’s internal revenue, particularly through urban farming and other businesses using our academics,” said Prof Werta. In addition, he would also like to work on changing the university’s internal business practices, particularly the automation and digitalisation of the university system and the implementation of a contemporary university property management system, among others. 

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Seasoned international pianist appointed at the OSM
2016-02-05

Description: Dr Grethe Nöthling Tags: Dr Grethe Nöthling

Dr Grethe Nöthling

The Odeion School of Music is delighted to welcome Dr Grethe Nöthling as a new member of its dynamic performance faculty.

Dr Nöthling has been appointed as principal piano lecturer. She has won several national music competitions, and is the recipient of numerous awards and bursaries, including the University of South Africa overseas scholarship for teachers in 2003.

Musician and pedagogue par excellence

From 1989 to 2005, Dr Nöthling performed as soloist with all major South African Symphony Orchestras. She obtained a Bachelor of Music Degree (magna summa cum laude), specialising in Performance from the University of Pretoria under the tutelage of Professors Ella Fourie and Joseph Stanford.

She furthered her studies in the United States of America at the Cleveland Institute of Music where she received a Master’s of Music Degree in 2008 under the guidance of Daniel Shapiro and Paul Schenly.

Dr Nöthling obtained a Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree (2014) from the University of Iowa (UI) in the USA under Professor Uriel Tsachor. During her studies at the U of I, she was awarded a teaching assistantship, and performed with the university’s New Music Ensemble. During a ten-year residency in the USA, she has performed extensively as both soloist and chamber musician.

Inspiration for aspiring musicians

“It is my hope to be an inspiration for young and upcoming musicians both as pedagogue and performing artist. In order to consider the unique gifts and challenges of every individual student, I am of the opinion that is imperative to be very flexible and adjustable from a methodological and musical perspective,” said Dr Nöthling.

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