UKZN’s Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS) PhD and Master’s graduates were lauded for their achievements during a virtual celebration organised by the Centre. The CCMS boasts a record number of eleven PhDs and five Master’s graduates for the year.
Professors Ruth Teer-Tomaselli, Keyan Tomaselli, Donal McCracken, Eliza Govender and Sarah Gibson supervised the graduates.
Teer-Tomaselli said, ‘We are really proud of our graduates, and we wanted to acknowledge and honour them in a special way. By achieving their degrees, their careers as scholars have now begun.’
Dean and Head of the School of Applied Human Sciences, Professor Matshepo Matoane congratulated both CCMS staff and graduates for their dedication and hard work. ‘To the graduates, this is one of your greatest milestones. Go forth, enter the world of academia and inspire greatness.’
A video created by one of the graduates Dr Marion Alina, was shared during the event. It showcases the CCMS’ offerings, students’ journeys and the rigorous and critical research process undertaken by students.
Being part of the CCMS not only taught Drs Phiwe Nota and Yonela Vukapi the value of hard work but also the importance of collegiality. This led to them achieving within the College of Humanities and at international conferences. ‘Among the proudest moments in my seven years at CCMS was receiving all of my postgraduate degrees – honours, Master’s and now PhD – under my supervisor Professor Eliza Govender,’ said Nota.
For Vukapi, the ‘CCMS is an academic space, yet it was “a home-away-from-home” for most of us. I treasure being given the opportunity to grow through practical experience and being nurtured by senior lecturers and professors.’
The graduates were thankful for the support at the CCMS. They pledged to continue their journey of growth within academia and their communities.
The graduates are:
- Brenda Bukowa (PhD)
- Damien Tomaselli (PhD)
- Len Rosenberg (PhD)
- TigereMuringa (PhD)
- Marion Alina (PhD)
- Yonela Vukapi (PhD)
- Phiwe Nota (PhD)
- Marchant van der Schyff (PhD)
- Rhoda Abiolu (PhD)
- Parkie Mbozi (PhD)
- Henri-Count Evans (PhD)
- Benjamin Kazule (Master of Social Science)
- Sima Bokolo (Master of Social Science)
- Noluthando Fandane(Master of Social Science)
- Oluwabunmi Okelola (Master of Social Science)
- Micha Michele Augustine (Master of Social Science)
The event closed with a musical performance by CCMS alumnus, vocalist and UKZN staff member Ms Thulile Zama.
