Prof Denise Zinn is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching & Learning at Nelson Mandela University, and was previously the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education at NMMU. Prior to this the Exec
utive Dean of the Faculty of Education at Fort Hare University. She has been deeply involved in initiatives related to curriculum review, design and renewal, as well as to the building of a transformative institutional culture in these environments. Her undergraduate, honours and teaching degrees were obtained at UCT, whereafter she taught English, Maths and Science in Port Elizabeth high schools for 12 years (at St Thomas and Chapman High Schools). Her Master’s and Doctoral degrees were obtained at Harvard University Graduate School of Education, where she also served as board member and co-chairperson of the Harvard Educational Review. Her abiding interest has been in the area of teaching and learning, and her most recent research and publications explore the theory and praxis of a humanising pedagogy, and social justice, equity and diversity issues in education.
She is married to Allan Zinn, and they have two sons Marc and Ricky, and recently their first granddaughter Maya.
Short Bio/CV — Prof Denise Zinn
- Currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching & Learning (since 1 January 2015)
- Previously was Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education at NMMU and Fort Hare University, and Senior Lecturer at Rhodes University, East London Campus
- At both Fort Hare and NMMU, I have been engaged in curriculum reviews and curriculum design, as well as participatory initiatives to build transformational institutional culture and relevant curricula.
- My most recent publications and research are on humanising pedagogy, and social justice and diversity in education
- In the early 2000’s, I was involved with the Tertiary Education Linkages Project (TELP) funded by USAID, where I was responsible for the Gender Equity portfolio, as well as support for proposal writing and management of projects funded by TELP across 17 HDI’s.
- In the early 1990’s, I received scholarships to do a M.Ed (Language and Literacy) and then a Doctorate (Teaching, Learning & teacher education) at Harvard University Graduate School of Education (HUGSE). I was a board member and co-chairperson of the Harvard Educational Review, and also taught in several programmes in different US universities while I was there.
- Before my studies at Harvard, I was a teacher of English and Mathematics for over a decade at various High Schools in the Port Elizabeth.
- I was also a community activist, involved in civic organisations, anti-apartheid sports organisations (EPCOS & SACOS), teacher movements (TLSA & ECTU) and community cultural/educational fellowship & organizations.
Short Bio/CV
Currently Prof Denise Zinn is the DVC: Teaching & Learning at NMMU (since 1 January 2015), and previously was Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education at NMMU and prior to this the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education at Fort Hare University. At both Fort Hare and NMMU, as well as in previous work for the Tertiary Education Linkages Project, she has been deeply involved in curriculum review, development and curriculum renewal, as well as participatory initiatives to build a transformative institutional culture in higher education environments.
Her most recent publications and research explore the theory and praxis of a humanising pedagogy, and social justice and diversity issues in education. In terms of academic qualifications, her undergraduate and teaching degrees were obtained at UCT, and after teaching in Port Elizabeth high schools for 12 years, she received scholarships to do an M.Ed (Language and Literacy) and then a Doctoral degree in the area of Teaching, Curriculum and Learning Environments (TCLE) at Harvard University Graduate School of Education (HUGSE). During her time at Harvard, she was a board member and co-chairperson of the Harvard Educational Review, and also taught in several programmes in different US universities while there.
She has throughout her life been involved in community activism, non-racial civic organisations and sports organisations, teacher organisations (TLSA & ECTU) and community cultural, educational fellowship & organisations.