On 25 March 2026, the University of the Free State (UFS) brought together academic leaders and newly promoted staff in the Wynand Mouton Theatre on its Bloemfontein Campus. The event marked more than a career milestone – it positioned academic advancement as a responsibility to shape the next generation of scholars.
Staff members from all seven faculties were recognised for their promotion to new roles, joined by faculty deans and members of the executive leadership.
Opening the event, Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, framed promotion as a moment that carries influence beyond individual achievement.
“When you reach the level of full professor, that is where the real work begins,” she said. “It is about how you support others, how you grow the next cohort of academics, and how you open doors that may not have existed before.”
She challenged those present to actively contribute to transforming the academic landscape, with specific emphasis on increasing opportunities for black women in the professoriate.
The recognition formed part of a broader institutional focus on strengthening academic excellence while building a more inclusive and representative university community.
As names were called out, promoted staff members joined Prof Anthea Rhoda, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, and their respective deans on stage for photographs – a visible moment of acknowledgement in front of peers and leadership.
Among them was Dr Dimitri Veldkomet from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, who was recently promoted to Senior Lecturer. For him, the recognition carried both personal and community significance.
“Getting to this point has not been easy, especially in our field,” he said. “But moments like this remind you that the work matters. It also shows young people from where I come from in Tsitsikamma that this path is possible.”
His reflection points to a wider impact: academic progression at the UFS is not only about institutional growth, but also about visibility and inspiration beyond the campus.
The event reinforced a key message – advancement in academia is closely tied to responsibility. As the UFS continues to invest in its academic community, the expectation is clear: those who progress are also expected to contribute to a more inclusive, supportive, and future-focused university environment.