Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Medal

Date Released: Tue, 5 April 2016 13:56 +0200

 On Thursday 31 March, Prof Catriona Macleod was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Medal. Here is the transcript describing her award.

Mr Chancellor, I have the honour of presenting to you Catriona Ida Macleod, Professor and SARChI Chair in the Department of Psychology, for the award of the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Medal.

This is the second VC’s award being presented to Professor Macleod in this ceremony, which has happened only once before at Rhodes.  Professor Macleod was also a recipient of the VC’s Book award in 2012, which places her today amongst this university’s most celebrated researchers through the VC’s awards.

“A stellar scholar and researcher, who is at the top of her field”, “the most eminent critical feminist psychologist in South Africa”, having “an outstanding international profile”, and producing work that is “sophisticated and innovative”. These are the words and phrases that peer reviewers have chosen to describe Professor Macleod.

This recipient‘s work spans critical health psychology, feminist psychology, and theoretical psychology. Her research is acknowledged as being methodologically sophisticated, and simultaneously rooted in down-to-earth real-life issues, mostly of a social justice nature.

She has published widely, in top international journals as well as local forums – an appropriate mix for a scholar concerned with local issues in a global context.  Her peers on the selection committee for this award were particularly persuaded by the impact of her work over a sustained period.  

Her worldwide standing is evidenced in

• her B1 rating from the National Research Foundation, a recognition category for researchers who are recognised internationally for the high quality and impact of their research outputs;
• a Distinguished Publication Award in 2011 from the International Association of Women in Psychology for her book: ‘Adolescence’, pregnancy and abortion: Constructing a threat of degeneration.  (London: Routledge);
• her appointment in 2013 as Editor-in-Chief of Feminism & Psychology, a top-tier international journal; and
• her selection as convenor of the International Conference of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP) in 2015.

As well as her current Editor-in-Chief role, her contribution has been sought for editorial roles in other journals and book projects, including the journals Gender & Society, Australian Psychologist, and the Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology in the international publishing space. Nationally, she has served as Associate Editor of Psychology in Society, and on the editorial board of the South African Journal of Psychology.

Her role as a supervisor and mentor is highly valued.  In this graduation week alone, she will graduate three PhDs and one master’s graduate.

In her personal life, Professor Macleod is the mother of two wonderful sons, the partner of very supportive man, and a cancer survivor.

In 2013 Prof Macleod was awarded the prestigious National Research Foundation SARChI Chair in Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction, enabling her to devote her working time to research and postgraduate students.She has nevertheless maintained the approach that her research is not only for academic purposes, as is evidenced by her inclusion in the recipients of this year’s Community Engagement Award.

She has nevertheless maintained the approach that her research is not only for academic purposes, as is evidenced by her inclusion in the recipients of this year’s Community Engagement Award.In strongly recommending her for this award, one of Professor Macleod’s referees notes that “her excellence and dedication as a critical scholar, engaged in cutting-edge research which is also directed towards developmental and social justice goals, deserves much acknowledgement and reward.”

In strongly recommending her for this award, one of Professor Macleod’s referees notes that “her excellence and dedication as a critical scholar, engaged in cutting-edge research which is also directed towards developmental and social justice goals, deserves much acknowledgement and reward.”Another describes her research as “prodigious and influential. … The sheer volume and reach of her activities is quite unusual; and the quality of her contributions … is remarkable.”

Another describes her research as “prodigious and influential. … The sheer volume and reach of her activities is quite unusual; and the quality of her contributions … is remarkable.”A third notes that “Her research, and that of her students, is respected for methodological sophistication, innovation and social contribution.”

A third notes that “Her research, and that of her students, is respected for methodological sophistication, innovation and social contribution.”

And finally, my personal favourite quote from a referee: “… the longer I know Prof Macleod, the more I am inspired, impressed, indeed in awe of her incisive intellect, her professionality, her reflexive, supportive and collegial manner, and her dedication to scholarship that is critical and committed to social justice.”

Mr Chancellor, I request you to award the 2015 Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Medal to Professor Catriona Macleod.