Youngest head takes the lead

Dr Suki Goodman has been appointed new head of organisational psychology in the School of Management Studies at UCT, becoming the youngest and only woman to head an industrial and organisational psychology department in South Africa.

Goodman succeeds her PhD supervisor, Professor Joha Louw-Potgieter, who witnessed Goodman's transition from student to lecturer.

"She has become the teaching mentor in the section, as she excels in instructional design and class presentation," Louw-Potgieter explains. "Apart from her academic and teaching leadership, she is also a meticulous administrator and compassionate convener."

The appointment has meant a reshuffling of priorities. A passionate teacher, Goodman (in picture) is sad that her teaching load (numerous courses from first-year through to master's level) will have to be trimmed to free her up for section head responsibilities. She will retain her first-year teaching duties, however, as she believes it's important that senior staff members participate in teaching at this level.