Presidency

The Presidency, which includes the President, President-Elect and Past President, meets on a monthly basis in preparation for the Executive Committee meetings and to consult with the Executive Director regarding the short- and long-term objectives of the Society. The former includes the organisation’s day-to-day functioning and the latter involves its strategic planning and growth initiatives to ensure PsySSA’s position as the leading professional psychology association in the country and the continent.

President: Prof Ronelle Carolissen

Ronelle Carolissen is a clinical psychologist and full professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology at Stellenbosch University. She has served as the vice-dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Faculty of Education from 2017-2020 and is a South African National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher. Her research expertise and publications explore transformation in higher education, with a specific emphasis on feminist decolonial pedagogies and critical community psychology perspectives on equity and youth citizenship in higher education contexts. She has published numerous journal articles in these areas and is the co-editor of the books Community, Self and Identity: Educating South African University Students for Citizenship (HSRC Press, 2012), Discerning Critical Hope in Educational Practices (Routledge, 2014), Transforming Transformation in Teaching and Research in Higher Education (African Sun Media, 2018), and Community Psychology: South African Praxis (2022). Ronelle is a longstanding member of PsySSA, has served two terms as the chair of the Division of Community and Social Psychology, chairs the transformation committee of PsySSA, and serves on the publications standing committee. PsySSA awarded her recognition for teaching Psychology in higher education in 2016. She serves on South African and international journal editorial boards that intersect in the fields of education and community psychology and serves on managing boards, most notably the SAMRC (South African Medical Research Council, 2019-present). She is a Fulbright research scholar alumnus (2021-2022), chief editor of the journal Psychology in Society (PINS), and a member of ASSAF (Academy of Science of South Africa).

President – Elect: Prof Jace Pillay

Prof Jace Pillay is a registered educational and counselling psychologist and the South African Research Chair in Education and Care in Childhood in the Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg. In February 2024 he was appointed a UNESCO Chair in Mental Health and Psychological Support for Teachers and Learners in SA. His previous positions at UJ were the Head of the Department of Educational Psychology and Vice Dean in the Faculty of Education. Currently, he heads a research team focusing on the mental health of learners and teachers as well as psychosocial support in schools.  As an academic he has published more than 100 journal articles, book chapters and conference proceedings both nationally and internationally. Also, he has supervised numerous postgraduate students and Postdoctoral Research Fellows. Prof Pillay is a keynote and invited speaker in numerous international conferences and has several international research collaborations. In addition to his academic stature, he serves on the Professional Board for Psychology. Also, he serves on the National Steering Committee for Care and Support for Teaching and Learning and chairs the CETA Programme for the Department of Education.

Past President: Prof Mercy Tshilidzi Mulaudzi

Mercy Tshilidzi-Mulaudzi is Professor of Psychology at the University of Venda and is Acting Executive Dean in the Faculty of Health Sciences comprising 5 departments, including Psychology. Her research interests are in Mental Health, HIV and AIDS, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Gender-Based Violence andEpidemiology. In the field of Psychology for 36 years, Prof Tshilidzi-Mulaudzi has taught, conducted research, and supervised graduates in psychology who are self-employed or who work in the public and private sectors. She has previously served as Additional Member on the PsySSA Executive and currently serves the in South African National Committee for the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS). Prof Mulaudzi is an academic leader who has not lost her connection with practitioners and the communities she interacts with. Despite her accolades and achievements, she remains humble and accessible.