For International Women's Day , the University of the Free State celebrates women from different spheres in their uniqueness, epitomising impact, quality, and care, and inspiring the world around them as well as the university community. The UFS is proud to have these women who, in their being, inspire excellence. Today we recognise and appreciate their contribution and continued influence in #BreakingTheBias

#InternationalWomensDay #UFSWomen 

Prof Brownhilder Neneh

Prof Brownhilder Neneh – ‘Only you can write and rewrite your story’
Prof Brownhilder Neneh is Associate Professor and Head of Department in the Department of Business Management. A mum of two beautiful daughters...

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Dr Maria Madiope

Dr Maria Madiope – Embracing education and empowering others
Dr Maria ‘Marinkie’ Madiope, who grew up in Garankuwa Pretoria, is not your average professional woman...

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Lacea Loader

 
Lacea Loader – A consummate communications professional putting the UFS on the map
Lacea Loader is an award-winning communications professional who heads the UFS Department of Communication and Marketing as Director...

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Emmie Chiyindiko

 
Emmie Chiyindiko on women power and leading in a male-dominated world
Multi-award-winning science communicator, Emmie Chiyindiko, is a Chemistry PhD research student at the University of Free State (UFS)...

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Zanele Mbhele

Qwaqwa student launches youth development website
Zanele Mbhele is a third-year BSc student majoring in Chemistry and Botany on the Qwaqwa Campus. At age 22, this young woman from Cornelia, a small town in the Northern Free State...

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Prof Karin van Marle

Prof Karin van Marle: Contributing to education and scholarship
Karin van Marle – Professor in the Department of Public Law, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law, and Programme Director: Research and Postgraduate Study...

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Ebeth Grobbelaar

SADoCoL women take challenges in their stride and excel
For Ebeth Grobbelaar, Scientific Manager in the South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL) – which is housed by the University of the Free State (UFS)...

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Marisna Nel

Marisna Nel: We are all part of a bigger picture and each one has an important role to play
Marisna Nel is the Director: Governance and Reporting in the Department of Finance at the University of the Free State...

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Prof Aliza Le Roux

Prof Aliza le Roux on being bold and fearless
Prof Aliza le Roux is Associate Professor in Zoology and Entomology, and Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus...

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Dilahlwane Mohono

Dilahlwane Mohono: From cleaner to recipient of two honours degrees
Fuelled by her deep pain due to falling pregnant during her matric year, as well as the desire to one day hold a qualification, Dilahlwane Mohono – Senior Faculty Officer...

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Christina Mack

Christina Mack: Believing in the power of community
Leaving Rustenburg in the North-West for the Free State, Christina Mack’s life has changed for the better. Mack, a Housekeeping Manager on the University of the Free State...

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Dr Samantha Potgieter

Dr Samantha Potgieter – in the front line of the fight against COVID-19
Dr Samantha Potgieter is an infectious disease expert at the Universitas Academic Hospital and affiliated Lecturer in the Department of Internal Medicine...

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Dr Gladys Kigozi

Dr Gladys Kigozi and her quest for quality research
Dr Kigozi is the principal investigator of a collaborative project to explore TB patients’ experiences of depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse...

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Prof Janine Allen-Spies

Prof Janine Allen-Spies: Passionate about art
Prof Janine Allen-Spies is an artist, lecturer in Fine Arts, and image philosopher from the UFS Department of Fine Arts. She teaches painting, drawing, and conceptual art to pre-graduate students and supervises postgraduate students...

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Susan van Jaarsveld

Susan van Jaarsveld: Leading a happy and productive workplace
Susan van Jaarsveld is the Senior Director: Human Resources at the University of the Free State. Since the HR department is the ‘go-to person’ for all employee-related matters...

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Nombulelo Shange

Making a positive impact with writing
Nombulelo Shange is a lecturer in Sociology in the University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Sociology and one of our top opinion article writers...

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Sherry-Allan Jacobs

Possibilities for women in science are endless
The South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL), mostly consist of women – each with an important role they play in keeping this unit in formation...

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Itumeleng Mabusa

Women have sharp minds and brilliant leadership qualities
It is time that women realise their brilliant leadership qualities. Women are more sensitive and intuitive and bring a different dimension of leadership to the workplace...

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Elandré Williams

Using science to leave a positive change in the world for the women to come
Diversity in the scientific community is of the utmost importance and it is important to know that the inclusion of women in science is inevitable...

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Dr Lentsu Nchabeleng

Lentsu Nchabeleng: Bringing about positive change to make a collective impact
Dr Lentsu Nchabeleng currently serves as the Deputy Director in the Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Office...

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Prof Maryke Labuschagne

Prof Maryke Labuschagne:
‘You can have it all’
Maryke Labuschagne, Professor in Plant Breeding at the University of the Free State (UFS), is known to many for her work to enhance food security...

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