Claire-Anne Lester

I am a lecturer in Sociology at Stellenbosch University. I completed my PhD in Sociology at the University of Stellenbosch. My research is on the function of commissions of inquiry investigating state violence in the South African Mining Sector. My academic qualifications include an Mphil. in Transitional Justice from the University of Cape Town. Transitional Justice is the study of states and society that are transitioning from forms of authoritarian rule and/or civil war. My Mphil. specialisation was in Human Rights, where I was awarded distinction in the dissertation with no corrections required. I am intersted in the mechanisms behind the South African transition but have extensive work and research experience covering politics in Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Southern Africa, democratic institution biulding, social justice and advocacy work. I also have extensive experience working in a university environment as an ajunct lecturer and teaching assistant. Academic awards and recognition include (but not limited to): Fulbright Scholarship, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF) Programme, MMUF Graduate Initiatives fellow, Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Proposal Development fellowship. I was placed in the top ten of the De Beers Olympiad for creative writing.

Companies

• Lecturer Stellenbosch University (2021)
• Co-Founder The Constantia Heritage and Education Project (2017)
• Postdoctoral Researcher HUMA - Institute for Humanities in Africa (2021 — 2021)
• Fulbright Scholar Fulbright Association (2020 — 2021)
• Academic Consultant Self-Employed (2018 — 2021)
• Teaching Assistant University of Cape Town (2013 — 2021)
• Graduate Student and Teaching Assistant Stellenbosch University (2018 — 2021)
• Project Officer AWEPA (2016 — 2017)
• Campaigns Researcher Equal Education (2016 — 2016)

Education

• Stellenbosch University - Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Sociology 2018 - 2020
• University of Cape Town - Bachelor's Degree, Justice and Transformation 2010 - 2016
• University of Cape Town - Master's Degree, Transitional Justice 2014 - 2015
• University of Cape Town - Bachelor's Degree, Political Studies, History and English Literature 2008 - 2012