You are invited to the first of our series of Leadership Conversations with our 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, in honour and acknowledgement of their embodiment of the University’s motto “Where Leaders Learn”.

Event Details:

When: Thursday, 19 Nov, 2020 at 10:00

Topic: Leadership conversation between Dr Mabizela and Prof Morrell

Registration link*: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XHTlIahxQ2e-X6S8x7mPhA

Order of Proceedings

1. Facilitator: Ms. Nontobeko Sibisi

2. Reading of the citation: Dr Rebecca Hodes

3. Congratulatory speech: Dr Sizwe Mabizela

4. Conversation between Dr Mabizela and Prof Morrell

5. Prof Morrell speaks:

• Personal reflection regarding time at Rhodes University  
• Masculinity  
• Transformation in higher education
• Knowledge Debates and Southern Theory

About Professor Robert Morrell

As a B.Journ and then BA (Hons) in History graduate of Rhodes University, Professor Robert Morrell became a pioneer of Critical Masculinity Studies in South Africa. His path to the study of men and masculinities began in 1989 when he was teaching Education students at the University of Natal (now UKZN). He knew little about gender or feminism, and so began a journey of exploration and discovery which culminated in a new field in research in South Africa.

In 1997 he conceived of, organised and hosted the first masculinities conference in Africa. The Colloquium on Masculinities in Southern Africa ultimately generated a special issue of the Journal of Southern African Studies and an edited book. Prof Morrell's introductory essay remains to this day one of the Journal's most cited and downloaded articles.

Prof Morrell's masculinity work opened international doors, and he began to travel to conferences around the world and became part of a new global network of scholars, often termed 'profeminists'.

In January 2010, Prof Morrell started working in University of Cape Town's Research Office, to support mid-career researchers, promote inter-disciplinary research and African-centred research collaboration. There he began a research project around knowledge production. The geopolitics of knowledge production remains a relevant issue, and Prof Morrell developed reading groups and research projects to build a critical mass.

*For those who don’t get to register, the session will be either livestreamed or uploaded to our social media platforms after the event. Details of this will be communicated on our social media platforms:

• twitter.com/Rhodes_Uni
• https://www.facebook.com/rhodesuniversity
• www.linkedin.com/school/1621
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkeNry6-KnCW3kl8AsYPQlQ