Geraldine Franciscus
(Psychology: Head of Department)
Geraldine Franciscus is a Counselling Psychologist registered with the HPCSA and the Chair of the South African Association of Counselling Psychology (SAACP) a division of the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA). Geraldine completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Education and her MPsych degree at UWC. She is the Head of the Psychology Department and a Senior Psychology Lecturer at Cornerstone Institute, a private higher educational institution (NPO) based in Cape Town. She has been a Psychology Lecturer for 19 years and involved in academic planning and management since 2010. Geraldine has also been involved in setting up student counselling services, offering therapy, facilitating groups, mentoring and supervision to Honours and Master’s psychology students, interns and Registered Counsellors. Geraldine facilitates psycho-educational and HPCSA accredited CPD workshops for psychology professionals, NGO’s, teachers, mental healthcare workers, occupational therapists, and psychiatric nurses and social workers. She has a special interest in Brain Working Recursive Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focussed Brief Therapy and its application in the South African context.
Geraldine has also been involved in collaborative research and conference papers that have been presented at PsySSA Congresses. Some of this research has resulted in an article being published in the International Journal of Higher Education and Democracy: “Assessing the Impact of Outcomes-Based Education, Family Dynamics, and Psychosocial Stressors on Student Academic Adjustment in South Africa”. She is passionate about promoting community mental health and emotional well-being. Geraldine is currently pursuing PhD studies and engaged in collaborative research on the experience of online counselling during COVID 19.
Contact: geraldinef@cornerstone.ac.za
Beverley Dankers
(Student Services: Director)
Beverley has lived, worked and volunteered in the USA and Swaziland. She has been involved in tertiary institutions in various capacities for the past ten 10 years. Her own educational journey started with Cornerstone in 2009. She graduated with a BTh in Community Development at Cornerstone Institute in 2010, completed a BSocSc Honours degree in Development Studies at the University of Cape Town in 2012, and in 2016, completed a MEd in Curriculum and Instruction through Concordia University. At the African Christian College (NPO) in Swaziland Beverley taught women, youth and children while managing the college cafeteria.
She also worked as the administrator for The Luke Commission in Swaziland (NPO) where she served in the capacity as the administrator managing the office and providing leadership to the staff. Prior to joining the Student Services Department at Cornerstone Institute, she worked at UWC in the alumni relations office. Beverley has a son who is a civil engineer residing in Secunda, and a daughter and son-in-law who are both graphic designers. Her granddaughters are her pride and joy.
Contact: beverleyd@cornerstone.ac.za
Eugene Brandt
(Facilities: Manager)
Eugene Brandt has more than a decade of experience in corporate South Africa.
Contact: eugeneb@cornerstone.ac.za
Deidre Julies
(General Education and Media Studies: Programme Coordinator)
Deidre Julies earned an M.A degree Intercultural Theology at the George-August University, Goettingen in Germany. Her Theology study career commenced at Cornerstone Institute where she completed a Bachelor degree in Theology Community Development and Psychology then transferred to the University of the Western Cape where she earned a Bachelor degree in Theology and Honours degree in Religion and Society. She also holds a Diploma in Office Administration and a Bachelor of Technology degree in Marketing from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
She has invaluable years of work experience in corporate, academia and non-profit organisations, amongst others, she was an Ethics tutor at the University of the Western Cape, governance for sustainable development projects in the UK, system application and processes project for Metronet Alliance, London Underground, UK and administrative and marketing projects for non-profit and corporate organisation in South Africa. She initiated, chaired and drove a community development project in collaboration with the Desmond Tutu Centre of Spirituality, residing at the University of the Western Cape with the objective of poverty reduction and social justice in disadvantaged communities.
Deidre received various certificates of acknowledgement for academic excellence including the prestigious Erasmus Mundus award. She contributed as a member to committees such as the Recruitment Committee to appoint a Professor in Intercultural Theology at the University of Applied Sciences in Germany, General Secretary on the post graduate forum at the University of Western Cape, she chaired the board of trustees for sectional title affairs, managing employees and trustees profiles, including project implementation. She is also a member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians as well as a member of the Ministry Integrated Learnership Programme for Pastoral Ordination.
Her PhD proposal has been acknowledged at the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany in collaboration with the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, contributing to the current research project and aims to explore the potential of religious communities and sustainable development in Southern Africa and beyond with particular attention to AIC’s and PCC’s.
Contact: deidrej@cornerstone.ac.za
Thulani Dube
(Business Department: Programme Coordinator)
Thulani Dube holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nicosia. He also graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree in Business Management from the University of South Africa (UNISA) where he earlier received a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Human Resource Management. His passion for human capital development further urged him towards a Higher National Certificate in Skills Development Facilitation through UNISA as well. His lecturing focuses on areas including, Leadership Development, Entrepreneurship and Business Management. He remains committed to focussing on Managerial Leadership Development as well as Youth Empowerment and Development through various platforms.
Contact: thulanid@cornerstone.ac.za
Nqobile Ndlovu
(Librarian: Academic Resources Manager)
Nqobile Ndlovu is a knowledgeable professional Information Specialist with experience in the academic library setting. She gained experience working at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College), Durban University of Technology and Scottburgh Memorial Public Library. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Studies from Durban University of Technology. Dedicated to providing assistance in information retrieval and research techniques. She is committed to promoting literacy by supporting educational initiatives using online platforms. Nqobile possess extensive knowledge about materials (both physical and online), research databases, circulation, and other aspects of archiving. She is experienced in working with and supervising staff and supporting library operations.
Contact: nqobilen@cornerstone.ac.za
Dr Marianne Louw
(Deputy Dean)
Marianne is responsible for academic operations and quality and chairs the faculty management committee.
She has worked and studied at various tertiary institutions in South Africa and holds a doctorate in leadership communication. She is the co-author of the first comprehensive South African textbook on interpersonal communication, Let’s talk about interpersonal communication, which saw its fifth edition in 2020. Her past career also includes several years in the media industry, including serving as editor and managing editor of two national magazines. Marianne is a qualified life and business coach and in the early 2000s ran her own business, training and coaching corporate clients on leadership and communication.
Contact: mariannel@corenrstone.ac.za
Adeliah Jacobs
(Human Resources: Team Lead)
Adeliah has been in service to individuals and groups of people in the workplace and community based setting for 12 years. She is deliberate in her efforts to infuse all engagements albeit it a project, programme or people with insights gained from various work experiences from previous roles as an HR Manager, Quality Management Representative, Project Manager and from executive coaching sessions. She is exceptionally good at connecting dots, simplifying complex themes and creating enabling environments for people to work with their strengths. She has worked and volunteered at NGO’s in the primary healthcare setting, in production & engineering companies in the private sector and at a manufacturing & distribution company in the corporate sector. She makes a very concerted effort to listen well and to help individuals and teams to unlock possibility. She’s a social entrepreneur/product owner who has launched 2 business between 2016 and 2020 – one of which is a great example of how to fail forward.
Contact: adeliahj@cornerstone.ac.za
Henrietta Settler
(Sociology: Programme Co-ordinator)
Henrietta Settler worked as a Development Practitioner for more than 20 years in the community and youth development sector. Her dedication to education and freedom, stem from her desire to contribute positively to the lives of marginal constituencies and with this has a deep understanding of issues affecting the most vulnerable. As a black feminist, she also has a keen interest in gender migration in particular black, female migrants and agency.
Her academic experience spans several disciplines which add significantly to the richness of her abilities. She obtained a Diploma in Education from Dower College of Education; BPhil (ed) degree in Community and Youth Studies from the University of Birmingham and completed the Mphil in Social Science Methods (Research) with the University of Stellenbosch. Her Masters’ thesis focussed on the ethical considerations and power dynamics within the research setting and she explored these dimensions within hair salons managed and owned by black female African migrants.
Henrietta’s expertise and research interests include youth development, research ethics and gender and migration. Her immediate future plans include embarking on doctoral studies with a focus on gender, migration and economics.
Contact: henriettas@cornerstone.ac.za
Stephen Langtry
(Manager: Office of the Executive Dean)
Stephen has more than 12 years of experience in university administration at different South African higher education institutions. In addition, he also has experience in the public service and the not-for-profit sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Cape Town.
Contact: stephenl@cornerstone.ac.za
Anlene Teljaard
(Faculty Office: Theology and Ethics)
Anlene has an interest in classical and contemporary approaches to theology that account for relevant responses to societal issues, especially in Africa. They strive to work towards a more just and humane society has been part of her career path in the areas of formal theological education, as a lecturer, community worker in local South African communities, as well as, volunteering and providing service in the church (Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa) as a part-time minister.
Anlene holds a Masters in Divinity Studies from Stellenbosch University and a Research Masters from Vrije University, Netherlands.
Contact: anlenet@cornerstone.ac.za
Bulelani Ndindwa
(CEO Office: Advancement Coordinator)
Bulelani Ndindwa holds a National Diploma in Sports Management and a PGCE Senior Phase qualification which he attained at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in 2011 and 2012 respectively. He spent the first ten years of his career working as a Life Orientation (Subject Head), History and English teacher for Cape Town High School. He also held the position of Sports Coordinator for the school for the duration of his employment. He served on the School Governing Body (SGB) as the elected Educator Representative for six years.
Bulelani is the founder and Managing Director of Thembokwezi Football Academy based in Khayelitsha. At the academy, there are 60 registered players ranging from the ages of 12 to 19 years old.
He is also a director at the South African Small and Medium Enterprise Association (SASMEA) and is currently employed as the CEO Office and Advancement Coordinator at Cornerstone Institute.
Contact: bulelanin@cornerstone.ac.za