Cheryl Merle de la Rey | |
Office1: | 8th Vice-Chancellor University of Canterbury |
Term Start1: | 1 February 2019 |
Predecessor1: | Rod Carr |
Office2: | 12th Vice-Chancellor University of Pretoria |
Term Start2: | 1 November 2009 |
Term End2: | 31 December 2018 |
Predecessor2: | Calie Pistorius |
Successor2: | Tawana Kupe |
Birth Place: | Durban, South Africa |
Nationality: | South African |
Spouse: | Eldridge Johnson |
Alma Mater: | University of NatalUniversity of Cape Town[1] |
Professor Cheryl Merle de la Rey is a South African academic who, since 2019, has been vice-chancellor of University of Canterbury in New Zealand.[2] She was formerly Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
Professor Cheryl de la Rey attended the University of Natal, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in 1983, Bachelor of Arts Honours in 1984 and Master of Arts in 1986, all cum laude. She is a qualified Psychologist.
Professor De la Rey's research focused on race and gender,[3] especially the construction of gender and gender-based violence.[4]
A registered psychologist [by the Health Professions Council of South Africa], Professor De la Rey is a fellow of the Psychological Association of South Africa, a fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and of the Academy of Science of South Africa.
Professor De la Rey spent time as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cape Town before being named Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria in November 2009, replacing Calie Pistorius.
In October 2020, De la Rey was the subject of a letter critical of an attempt by the University of Canterbury to review the work of Anne-Marie Brady concerning Chinese Communist Party influence in New Zealand.[5] [6]