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We mourn the passing of Mrs Marian Clift on Friday 16 July 2021.

Marian joined Stellenbosch University (SU) in 2015 as an interpreter at the Language Centre. In 2021, she was appointed as an English lecturer in the Faculty of Education's Department of Curriculum Studies.

Yet Marian had made an impression on the Faculty of Education long before her appointment. As a BEdHons student, she not only excelled in her studies, but also helped her fellow students improve their writing skills. Full of purpose, she immediately started with her master's and earned her colleagues' deepest respect for her work ethic and enthusiasm.

She obtained her master's degree cum laude, with one of her examiners commenting that reading her thesis was like reading a detective novel: One simply couldn't put it down. A rare compliment indeed! Her thesis also won the Rector's Award for Excellent Achievement for 2020.

While she was working for the Language Centre, she started teaching English to the first-years in the Faculty of Education. Here, she made key contributions to improve students' academic literacy, conceptual understanding and study skills in general. Therefore, her ultimate appointment as an academic was almost inevitable.

At the time of her death, she had already started publishing in peer-reviewed journals and preparing registration for her PhD.

As a University community, we are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and lecturer, and wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, immediate colleagues and students.

In this time of shared grief and mourning, we remind colleagues that support is available. Please see the Employee Wellness webpage for contact details.

Students who need support are invited to contact the Unit for Psychotherapeutic and Support Services at our Centre for Student Counselling and Development (supportus@sun.ac.za/021 808 4994, 08:00 to 16:00 on weekdays) or our 24-hour emergency service provided in collaboration with ER24 (010 205 3032).​​