Professor Wim de Villiers
Pro-Chancellor, distinguished friends, colleagues, graduands and guests.
Rector and Vice-Chancellor of South Africa’s Stellenbosch University, Professor Wim de Villiers is committed to supporting students to achieve their potential and has worked in the UK, America and South Africa to that end.
For his commitment to science, as a medical doctor and researcher, it is with pleasure that we award Professor de Villiers an Honorary Doctor of Science.
The youngest child of a former Dean of Law at Stellenbosch University, Professor de Villiers distinguished himself at a young age, matriculating from Paul Roos Gymnasium with the best marks in the Cape Province before receiving the Francie Van Zijl and Chancellor’s medals for academic achievement at Stellenbosch University cum laude in 1983. The Chancellor’s medal, which is awarded to only one student per year, is the highest academic honour for a student at Stellenbosch University.
Registering as a physician with the South African Medical and Dental Council in 1984, Prof De Villiers started his career as an intern and medical officer at Frere Hospital in South Africa. The following year he moved to Pretoria to work as a medical officer in the military hospital, before returning to Stellenbosch University in 1986 to take up the post of registrar in Department of Internal Medicine.
In 1992 Prof De Villiers travelled to the UK and completed a DPhil in Immunology at Oxford University where he was the Nuffield Dominion Medical Fellow. After Oxford he decided to move to the America for what he thought would be an 18-month trip, but turned into 18 years largely based at the University of Kentucky. He also completed a Master’s degree in health care management from Harvard University.
As a gastroenterologist, he became a respected medical researcher and was recognised in the Best Doctors in America publication. He also held the Marcos Lins Andrade Endowed Chair in Gastroenterology, is a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association and was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the South African Gastroenterological Society in 2008. Prof De Villiers emerged as an increasingly influential academic leader at the University of Kentucky where he was head of Gastroenterology and Administrative Head of the Good Samaritan Hospital in Lexington.
Moving back to South Africa in 2013, he became Dean of Health Sciences at Cape Town University, before his appointment as Rector and Vice-Chancellor at Stellenbosch in April 2015.
Taking over the helm of the University, Prof De Villiers is committed to offering a dynamic and welcoming experience to all students in an inclusive environment that aims to address South Africa’s historical inequalities.
He likes to keep fit in his spare time, enjoying mountain biking and in recent years he has also taken to the road by foot, competing in a number of marathons, including the big five – Boston, New York, London, Chicago and Berlin.
He is married to Catherine, and they have two daughters, Katusha and Gera; a son, Braam and daughter-in-law, Kelly; and three grandchildren, Eloise, Beatrice and Rosalie. De Villiers sees SU as a mature university that is well positioned to be locally relevant, yet globally competitive. He wants students to receive an excellent education that will give them a competitive advantage as graduates in a rapidly changing world. He believes the University should offer an experience that is pleasant, welcoming and hospitable – in an inclusive environment. He is committed to continued transformation to address the inequalities of the South African past.
Wim’s vision for his institution has meant the university has a similar outlook to Coventry, which has resulted in links in peace and reconciliation, enterprise, agro-ecology and water and health. His background as a doctor and researcher has also seen a growth in a shared interest to transform research and teaching in these areas at both universities.
In recognition of his exceptional academic leadership and work as a doctor and researcher, Coventry University, by decision of the Academic Board, has the privilege of conferring the Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, on Professor Willem de Villiers.