“I would encourage colleagues to take a walk when the pressure is on,” says Dezlin Jacobs, Senior Academic Programmes Co-ordinator, who tells Tukkievaria about her career and her role as a Day House Guardian of Docendo Day House.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Fish Hoek, Cape Town, in 1983.  I moved up with my parents and sister when I was 14, because my Dad was transferred to Pretoria.

Share your background with colleagues (where did you work prior joining UP)?

I am a teacher by profession.  I started off as a primary school teacher and then went on to be a high school teacher. I then did a stint as a co-ordinator for ICT training of teachers, working at an NGO in Johannesburg.  I joined the UP stable in 2012 and this is my tenth anniversary working at this wonderful institution.

What does your day-to-day role entail?

I have the privilege of working alongside faculty academics and administrators to ensure that regulation amendments that affect our respective curriculums are in tip-top shape. My team and I are responsible for five of our ten faculties and we ensure that the information that is contained in our yearbook is correct on the system so that our students can register for the programmes, complete their degrees and eventually march proudly across the stage when they graduate to receive their certificates.  The day-to-day often entails meeting either with academics as they get their regulation amendments in order or carefully working through the proposals to ensure that they will be approved by Faculty Board or Senate respectively.

I am also a Day House Guardian for Docendo Day House.  Working with these driven young people has been food to my soul. It is wonderful to see how they manoeuvre life’s challenges.  Heaven knows that being a young adult is a rollercoaster adventure at the best of times. These 12 young adults have taken on the role of Executive Committee in addition to their academic responsibilities - and being the one to remind them to breathe when it gets a bit harrowing has been an honour!

What do you enjoy most about your job and why?

I really love working with the academics and faculty administrative staff.  I have the fortunate position of being able to look into the future, through the eyes of the academics who want to train students to be doing it the UP Way.  I also have the privilege of being able to ask pertinent questions, such as what happens with a student that fails a module or whether we have the resources to implement a programme.  I can point a magnifying glass - if you will - at the administrative areas that may have been overlooked when putting an academic regulation amendment together.

Being a Day House Guardian has been a real-time reminder of what the end game is for our institution.  We want to send well-rounded individuals into the world that make a positive contribution in their circle of influence.

How would you motivate/ encourage colleagues to handle pressure?

I would encourage colleagues to take a walk when the pressure is on.  Whether that’s a walk to the kitchen for a glass of water or to the garden outside our offices. Often, we just need to take a step back and breathe by changing the flow of activity to gain a refreshed perspective. A dance party is a great way to relieve stress.

What you like to improve in your unit and why?

My current project in our unit is to encourage best practices amongst team leaders.  Our unit has three groups of three each.  Our goal is to meet once a month to touch base and encourage one another in how we approach our roles as leaders.  Part of this is to listen to podcasts of choice on leadership and then share the nuggets with the other leaders.  It’s still early days for this - but I really believe that if we have an open and transparent conversation about leadership - how we do it and how we improve and accept correction - then we will go so much further as individuals and an organisation.

What is your least favourite part of the job?

Sitting. I wish the work I do, could be done whilst walking.  The fact is, I can get so engrossed in what I am doing that I tend only to swing on my chair instead of getting up and taking a walk.

What do you do in your free time?

I am in the season of my life where free time is rather limited.  I have three busy little humans and an entrepreneur husband that I get to love when I am not being an amazing administrator for UP. I am also an active member of our Women’s Fellowship at the Willows Methodist Church,so between UP, family and church, a nap with my youngest is my favourite activity now.

What are your personal likes and dislikes?

I love listening to people’s stories.  I have found that one can learn so much if one just has a little time to listen - and then maybe remember to ask the next time that you meet the person. We really do not know half the stuff that colleagues have to deal with and a patient ear and kind words may do wonders for the soul. Dislikes?  I don’t like winter - but here we are.  It’s a great reminder that I have summer to look forward to.

Quick quiz:

Sport: For me to play?  Netball but I haven’t done that in ages. With my family - swimming at the gym (it’s warmer than home) or on the trampoline at Bounce.

Food: I love bread! 

Movies: King Richard, Black Widow and Wonder Woman were great! All-time favourite is Troy!

Actors: My children, Macharia, Athena and Jirah.  Most weekends include a show where they are the “sterrings”.

Musician: My husband, Lyle Jacobs!

All-time hero: Moms!  Especially single moms.