CSSR celebrates recent graduates: Honouring achievements and recognising impact!
The Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR) is proud to celebrate the recent achievements of three outstanding graduates who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. Their hard work, resilience, and dedication are testaments to the transformative power of education and research. We are excited to highlight the journeys and current projects of Dr. Tatenda Mugwendere, Dr. Shehani Perera, and Carly Katzef, as they continue to shape the future through their research and community engagement.
Dr. Tatenda Mugwendere: PhD in Demography
Dr. Tatenda Mugwendere's research focuses on the family and household demography of Black/African women in South Africa over the past half-century. His doctoral work provides valuable insights into union formation and household living arrangements, contributing to a deeper understanding of social structures in the region.
Reflecting on his journey, Tatenda humorously adds, "This means I can finally call myself Dr. Tatenda and now officially use 'PhD' as an excuse for being busy!! 😂 (Just kidding!). This achievement serves as a reminder that hard work and resilience eventually pay off," Tatenda says with pride.
Tatenda is currently applying his research skills at the Adolescent Accelerate Hub, working on the HEY BABY project. In his role, he facilitates research through data management, analysis, and design, further expanding his impact in social science research.
Dr. Shehani Perera: DPhil in Public Health
With a research focus on assisted partner notification for HIV, Dr. Shehani Perera's work has the potential to reshape public health practices related to HIV prevention and care. "Obtaining a PhD is like a key that opens up various opportunities to me. I see it as a stepping stone to the kinds of work I would like to do in the future at the intersection of social work practice and public health research," Shehani shares.
Currently, Shehani is a postdoctoral researcher at the CSSR, working on two pivotal projects: one aiming to reduce stigma among HIV-positive adolescents and another focused on adapting a parenting programme for nurses providing services to young people. Her work continues to drive forward meaningful change in public health and social care.
Carly Katzef: MPhil in Public Policy (with distinction!)
Carly Katzef’s MPhil in Public Policy has equipped her with a deep understanding of family-strengthening policies in South Africa. Her thesis, Implementing family strengthening policy: An assessment of NGO experiences in the Western Cape, sheds light on how best to support families from a systems perspective.
Speaking about her achievement, Carly says, "A deep dive into the creation, implementation, and evaluation of social policy has allowed me to understand how best to support families from a systems perspective and at scale." Carly is currently working as a co-investigator and project coordinator on a SWIFT study that aims to embed a digital parenting programme in the government health sector in the Western Cape, with a PhD on the horizon.
These graduates exemplify the CSSR’s mission to produce impactful research that addresses pressing social challenges. Their achievements reflect not only personal milestones but also a collective effort to contribute to society’s well-being.
Congratulations to you all!