FIRST WOMAN DEAN APPOINTED FOR THE FACULTY OF LAW

For the first time in its history, UKZN’s Faculty of Law has appointed a woman as its Dean.

She is Professor Managay Reddi who takes over the reins for the next five years.

Priorities for Professor Reddi in her new role include entrenching the Faculty’s position as a leader in research output and ensuring that it becomes the Faculty of first choice for prospective law students. Staff development is also high on her agenda.

To this end the Mentoring and Research Incentive Programme - designed to equip staff with skills relevant to being excellent legal academics - has been implemented in the Faculty. According to Professor Reddi, young academics currently reading for their doctoral degrees have benefitted from the programme which offers modules designed to improve the skills of emerging researchers.

Responding to her appointment Professor Reddi said: “My appointment as head of one of the leading Faculties at UKZN is an enormous challenge. I’m really pleased by the University’s confidence in making this appointment. I am therefore determined not to disappoint all those who have shown confidence in my ability to do this job.”

Professor Reddi, who considers the success of both staff and students as the greatest rewards of her job, believes it important for Deans to participate actively in Faculty academic programmes. She plans to continue lecturing at the under and post graduate levels as she believes this provides an opportunity to both keep in touch with staff and students and to teach, which she enjoys.

Drawing her inspiration from the achievements of Chief Justice Pius Langa and other black legal professionals who have succeeded in their careers despite challenging circumstances, Professor Reddi advises law graduates entering the profession to do their jobs with integrity. This, she said, would bring them the “greatest rewards” both personally and professionally.

To current students she emphasises the importance of developing their language and analytical skills through extensive reading. “Law students must understand that their laboratory is the library”

Professor Reddi, who considers obtaining her LLD in Law at the former University of Durban-Westville in 1999 as her greatest career success so far, has had research articles in the area of criminal law and procedure published in a number of journals including the South African Law Journal and the South African Journal of Criminal Justice.