NEW BEGINNINGS

Ms Valencia Kuppusamy started her career at the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences on 1 January 2022. 

Read more about her:

Q: What do you do at NAS?
 A: I am a lecturer in rock mechanics and engineering geology, working as part of the Geology department's Engineering Geology/Hydrogeology team. My role as an academic involves teaching and research in rock mechanics and engineering geology. 

Q: As a new staff member at UP, what stands out for you from UP/NAS?
A: The focus on research and related enthusiasm authentically displayed by academics I've met thus far is what stands out the most for me. 

Q: What qualities do you think a good employee should have to succeed? 
A: There are many qualities needed to succeed, and these generally vary based on the employee's role, manager expectations/perceptions and, of course, the nature of their industry. Perhaps the most valuable qualities to have in academia would be a "growth mindset", integrity, and patience.

Q: What is your life philosophy? What words do you live by? 
A: The life philosophies I've adopted or applied have been modified with life experiences and are often influenced by the type of person I aspire to be. However, the few that come to mind that I tend to live by are: "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value", "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", "Sometimes it's more important to be kind than to be right", and "Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the triumph over it".   

Q: Who is your role model/mentor, and why?
A: I've had many role models/mentors in my life in both a personal and professional capacity. I don't think I would want to be like anyone person in their entirety but would instead strive to adopt those characteristics I admire in them or choose to learn from their experiences. For example, I would strive to be as resilient as my mother, as committed as my dad, as dedicated as my sisters, as tolerant and wise as my ex-colleague and friend, and as patient and technically forward-thinking as my previous academic supervisors. 

Q: Where did you study, and what is your highest qualification? 
A: My undergraduate BSc in Geological Sciences and BSc (Honours) Engineering and Environmental Geology was completed at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. I later completed my MSc (Eng) in Mining Engineering (Rock Mechanics) at the University of Witwatersrand.

Q: Where were you previously employed? 
A: Before working at UP, I worked at Golder Associates, a global consulting company, for most of my career. I then started my own consulting company, GeoPioneers, whilst completing my postgraduate studies.