Melanie Skead was recently appointed as Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning. She has moved to Stellenbosch University from Rhodes University where she was a Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL). 

She has been working in Higher Education since 1988 and holds a PhD in English and two professional qualifications in education including a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education (Academic Development) from Rhodes University. Melanie has been active in academic development since 2003. 

Her experience in the field spans across student, staff and curriculum development as well as academic leadership at various higher education institutions including Vista University, Fort Hare and Nelson Mandela University and Rhodes University where she coordinated the National and Rhodes PGDip (HE) and supervised PhD students. 

Her research interests include educational pathways for academic developers, academic agency in curriculum transformation and problematizing notions of quality in higher education. She has published academic papers in the areas of Writing Centre development, student academic development and formal learning opportunities for academic developers. 

On a personal note, she has three adult children (a son and two daughters) and one granddaughter. She hopes to settle permanently in Stellenbosch with her husband in the near future. Melanie is a self-proclaimed tree-hugger and is passionate about music, the arts, animal welfare and good wine!