Excellent Leadeship - UWC registrar

Dr Nita Lawton-Misra

Gender inequalities in society deepened by pandemic Gender inequalities in society deepened by pandemic

Although she fulfills the vital role of Registrar at UWC, Dr Nita lawton-Misra is actually a psychologist by training, with a particular interest in the field of disability.

Her previous experience in the Registrar’s office of another university provided her with an opportunity to participate in all functions and responsibilities in the Registrar’s domain.

“I instantly understood the need for accountability, integrity and transparency during this time, as governance became my core responsibility. My other key focus area was academic administration, which involves the full life-cycle of a student at university.”

Reflecting back on the last year and-a-half, she says that “the pandemic has deepened gender inequalities, and the academic life of female academics has changed in terms of academic productivity.

“Time and again, we hear from female academics that the pandemic forced women to play different roles and assume greater domestic responsibilities, particularly in patriarchal households.

“Child-caring, caring for elderly parents and other family members, domestic chores and homeschooling were added to their regular professional roles. Many women found it increasingly difficult to balance their personal and professional responsibilities.”

At the same time, there were opportunities if you only knew where to look.

“The pandemic and ensuing lockdown provided many opportunities – to think and function differently, to embrace change, to be agile, to appreciate things that I often took for granted, to reassess my priorities, to appreciate family, friends and neighbours, and to realise that one’s health matters above everything else.”

Her greatest professional challenge was setting boundaries – she found that she was expected to be available 24 hours a day with no clear distinction between work and personal spaces.

“After a while, it became less a case of ‘working from home’ and more a case of ‘living at work’,’’ she notes with a laugh. But her practices of daily yoga and meditation, not to mention the occasional Netflix binge got her through the worst of the isolation.

“Although the working hours became somewhat blurred and boundaries seemed to have disappeared, the time I set aside for reflection and relaxation gave me the strength and fortitude to persevere.”

In the future, she plans to fulfil a long-held goal of training in palliative care/counselling, and working in that field on a voluntary basis as a way of giving back to the community and expanding her skill set. “

Although the working hours became somewhat blurred and boundaries seemed to have disappeared, the time I set aside for reflection and relaxation gave me the strength and fortitude to persevere.”

Although she fulfills the vital role of Registrar at uWC, Dr Nita lawton-Misra is actually a psychologist by training, with a particular interest in the field of disability. her previous experience in the Registrar’s office of another university provided her with an opportunity to participate in all functions and responsibilities in the Registrar’s domain.

“I instantly understood the need for accountability, integrity and transparency during this time, as governance became my core responsibility. My other key focus area was academic administration, which involves the full life-cycle of a student at university.” Reflecting back on the last year and-a-half, she says that “the pandemic has deepened gender inequalities, and the academic life of female academics has changed in terms of academic productivity.

“Child-caring, caring for elderly parents and other family members, domestic chores and homeschooling were added to their regular professional roles. Many women found it increasingly difficult to balance their personal and professional responsibilities.”

At the same time, there were opportunities if you only knew where to look. “the pandemic and ensuing lockdown provided many opportunities – to think and function differently, to embrace change, to be agile, to appreciate things that I often took for granted, to reassess my priorities, to appreciate family, friends and neighbours, and to realise that one’s health matters above everything else.”

Her greatest professional challenge was setting boundaries – she found that she was expected to be available 24 hours a day with no clear distinction between work and personal spaces.

“After a while, it became less a case of ‘working from home’ and more a case of ‘living at work’,’’ she notes with a laugh. But her practices of daily yoga and meditation, not to mention the occasional Netflix binge got her through the worst of the isolation. “Although the working hours became somewhat blurred and boundaries seemed

“Although the working hours became to have disappeared, the time I set somewhat blurred and boundaries aside for reflection and relaxation seemed to have disappeared, the time gave me the strength and fortitude to persevere.”

I set aside for reflection and relaxation gave In the future, she plans to fulfil a me the strength and fortitude to persevere.” long-held goal of training in palliative care/counselling, and working in that field on a voluntary basis as a way of giving back to the community and expanding her skill set.