Building a Community of Women in STEM
STEM MentHER was founded to support female learners pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. This is achieved by carefully pairing each learner with a female mentor and by exposing them to curated programmes involving female leaders and experts. Every year, ±10 students are inducted into the program at each university that has a STEM MentHER Division.
Our
Objectives
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Bridge the school-university gap.
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Keep the girl child in the STEM pipeline. Historically, no more than 35% of females occupy roles/positions in STEM.
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Inspire learners to pursue STEM careers by exposing them to female role models.
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Provide expert mentorship. STEM MentHER offers a unique experience since mentors are university academics, post-doctoral fellows, Graduate PhDs or industry professionals.
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Provide holistic study and career development opportunities to our mentees.
Mentorship Activities
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One-on-one mentorship sessions with an academic mentor.
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Group check-in session for each university division.
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Career assessment and guidance days at University.
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Mental and physical well-being activities and counselling.
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Mentor Shadowing Day.
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Study, goal-setting workshops.
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Invited speaker sessions with inspiring women in STEM.
Meet the Team
Director
Dr Lungile Sitole
Dr Lungile Sitole is a senior lecturer and researcher at the University of Cape Town. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Pretoria. She specialises in Medical Biochemistry.
Founder and Chair
Dr Cerene Rathilal
Dr Cerene Rathilal is a senior lecturer and Mathematician at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She specialises in Pointfree Topology and obtained her PhD in Mathematics at UKZN.
UKZN Division Manager
Prof Nishani Harinarian
Prof Nishani Harinarain was the first person to graduate with a PhD in Construction Management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She has experience in major construction projects and has vast experience in lecturing and research.
UKZN Division Co-ordinator
Dr Naimah Ebrahim Khan
Dr Naimah Ebrahim Khan is a senior lecturer and academic leader at UKZN Optometry. She holds a PhD in Optometry and her research focuses on vision screening, contact lenses, optometry and technology and dry eye.
SU Division Manager
Dr Chevarra Hansraj
Dr Chevarra Hansraj is a lecturer in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Stellenbosch University. She holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from UKZN. She specialises in black holes and gravitational waves.
SU Mentor Coordinator
Dr Yaseera Ismail
Dr Yaseera Ismail is a senior lecturer and Quantum Physicist at Stellenbosch University. She is an experimentalist developing quantum optical tools, and she obtained her PhD in Physics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
SU Mentee Coordinator
Dr Retha Heymann
Dr Retha Heymann is a lecturer in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Stellenbosch University. She specialises in Functional Analysis, working in operator semigroup theory and operator-theoretic aspects of ergodic theory.
UCT Division Manager
Prof Shareefa Dalvie
Prof Shareefa Dalvie is an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She holds a PhD in Human Genetics from UCT. She has expertise in bipolar disorder, imaging genetics and biological psychiatry.
UCT Division Co-ordinator
Ms Nakita Laing
Nakita Laing is a Genetic Counsellor at Groote Schuur Hospital and an Honorary lecturer at the University of Cape Town.
UCT Division Co-ordinator
Dr Khuthala Mnika
Dr Khuthala Mnika is a lecturer at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She holds a PhD in Human Genetics from UCT. Her research interest is in the Genomics of Sickle Cell Disease and Inherited Kidney Disease.
UJ Division Manager
Dr Farhahna Allie
Dr Farhahna Allie is a lecturer at the University of Johannesburg. She holds a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her research focuses on molecular plant-virus interaction studies and the plant pathology of agriculturally important crops.
UJ Mentee Co-ordinator
Dr Vivien Visaya
Dr Vivien Visaya is a senior lecturer at the University of Johannesburg. She has a D.Sc in Mathematics from Kyoto University, Japan. Her research interests are in dynamical systems, time series analysis, and innovative visualisation techniques.
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UJ Mentor Co-ordinator
Prof. Lee-Ann Sade Modley
Prof Modley is a senior lecturer and Deputy Head of Department in the Department of Geography, Environmental Management, and Energy Studies at the University of Johannesburg. She holds a PhD in Environmental Science specializing in Aquatic Health.
WITS Division Manager
Dr. Lindie Lamola
Dr Lindie Lamola is a lecturer and researcher at the Division of Human Genetics at the University of the Witwatersrand. She obtained her PhD in Human Genetics from the University of Cape Town.
WITS Mentee Co-ordinator
Dr. Raeesa Manjoo-Docrat
Dr Raeesa Manjoo-Docrat is a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. She holds a PhD in statistics. She specialises in statistics, spatial analysis, and infectious disease modelling.
UWC Division Manager
Dr. Sibaliwe Maku Vyambwera
Dr. Sibaliwe Maku Vyambwera is a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at UWC. She holds her PhD in Mathematical Science and her research focuses on developing mathematical models to study infectious diseases.
UWC Mentee Co-ordinator
Dr Philomene Nsengiyumva
Dr Philomene Nsengiyumva is a senior lecturer at the Department of Statistics and Population Studies at UWC. She holds a PhD in Population Studies and Demography. Her research focuses on migration, gender and access to scarce resources.
UWC Mentor Co-ordinator
Dr. Rechelle Jacobs
Dr. Rechelle Jacobs, a Statistician and lecturer at UWC, has 15 years in financial services and a decade in academia. She serves on Umalusi’s Assessment Standards Committee and founded the Master Mind Foundation.
NWU Mentee Co-ordinator
Mrs Mittah Magodielo
Mittah Magodielo is an academic advisor at North-West University. She is pursuing a PhD at NWU. Her research focuses on the impact of Indigenous Knowledge on the sustainable cultivation and use of plants.
NWU Division Manager
Mrs Felicity Nthatisi
Mrs Felicity Nthatisi is lecturer in nGAP at the school of Chemical Engineering at North West Univesity. She is pursuing her PhD at NWU. Her research focuses on advanced simulation and modelling (CFD) and emissions control.
NWU Mentor Co-ordinator
Dr Nombuso Zondo
Dr Nombuso Zondo is a senior lecturer in statistics at North-West University. She holds a PhD in Statistics from UKZN, and her research interests lie in applied statistics and statistics education.
UP Division Manager
Dr Naadhira Seedat
Dr Naadhira Seedat is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering
at the University of Pretoria since 2025. Her research focuses on sustainable
engineering solutions.
UP Mentor Co-ordinator
Dr Romina Henriques
Dr Romina Henriques is a Senior Lecturer in Population Genetics at the University of Pretoria.
molecular ecologist working on population genomics and evolution of marine species.
UP Mentee Co-ordinator
Dr Nomathemba Majola
Dr Nomathemba Majola is a Genetics Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Pretoria. She holds a PhD in Plant Breeding, with a foundation in quantitative genetics and crop improvement.
Student Assistant
Ms Keryn Lynne Scott
Keryn serves as a National Operations
Co-ordinator in the STEM MentHER programme. She holds a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science, Summa Cum Laude, from UKZN and is pursuing her honours in Mathematics.