International School Staff 2012

Professor Julian Cobbing

Professor Julian Cobbing lectures in the Department of History and has evolved from being a student of African history (specialising in the Ndebele and the early nineteenth-century 'mfecane') into a student and teacher of human crisis, both in Africa and globally. He teaches a well-attended first-year course at Rhodes University on World Crisis and enjoys the challenge of keeping up with the ever expanding and mutating subject matter. Interests include the contemporary globe, the history of homo sapiens as a species, Africa in crisis, photography and history.

Dr Sally Matthews

Dr Sally Matthews lectures in the Political and International Studies Department and has research interests in the politics of development and NGO work in Africa, poverty and inequality, development theory, reconciliation in South Africa, and African political economy. Her current research focuses on the relationship between poverty and privilege. Several of her recent articles explore some of the implications of the post-development debate, relating these particularly to NGO work in Africa. Other recent research examines white South African responses to privilege with a particular focus on the Home for All Campaign. More generally, her research interests are focused on the politics of development, African political economy and social theory.

Professor Robert O'Donoghue

Professor Robert O’Donoghue has long been concerned with how environmental learning and change practices are linked to living conditions – particularly for those living in conditions of poverty and environmental degradation. His professional history ranges from teaching primary school to working as the Director of Environmental Education for KZN Wildlife for 20 years. At present, Rob’s main role is to oversee the research of Masters and PhD students at the Environmental Learning Research Centre, and to integrate book-based learning about practice with actual practices about change. Exploring sustainable technologies and alternative practices is both his professional interest and his passion.

Richard Pithouse

Richard Pithouse joined the Department of Politics and International Relations in 2010 and has been nominated for the prestigious Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award for both 2010 and 2011. He has published widely on urban issues in South Africa. Richard is interested in the philosophy and politics of equality and freedom, and is currently working on the question of space in the work of Frantz Fanon and popular struggles for the right to the city in South Africa with a focus on Durban.

Ronald Wertlen

Ronald Wertlen is founder of the international Village Scribe Association, owner of an ICT for Development (ICT4D) start-up and professional associate at Rhodes University's Anthropology Department. He has led several large commercial and research software development projects in the fields of search, business intelligence and peer-to-peer in the US, Germany and South Africa. He believes that the Internet is the only viable tool we have that can structure a ten billion member society in a sustainable manner. To this end, he is researching African challenges to the adoption of ICT and creating software applications that are suited to the context.

Debbie Radloff

International School 2012 Coordinator

Debbie Radloff is a music graduate from Rhodes University. She was the Music Director at River of Life Church in Grahamstown for many years and a music teacher in several schools. Debbie is currently involved in training music teams in South Africa and Zambia.