Athenkosi Mndende

Accountable, respectful and eager to learn young lecturer with experience in marketing, digital communication, critical media studies, new media, copywriting, advertising production and design practice or art direction, professional and academic literacy. Proficient in InDesign, PhotoShop, Adobe Creative Softwares, Everletics, Google analytics, Content Management Systems, Blackboard, ITS, Ienabler and many more creative software. Research interests include Social media for impact, AI and Design, SEO Optimization and Ranking, and Media Influence, Cancel Culture, Mass Communication, Misinformation and Privacy in Digitized Media, Language, Media and Race.

• Advertising Foundations, LinkedIn Learning, 2023, Crafting Ad message, Ad Mapping and placement, Basic advertising presence and Public Relations, Content Strategy, Advertising in Larger Corporations, Marketing Research, Analytics, and optimization
• Copywriting Headline Master Class and Content Marketing Masterclass, Udemy partnered with News24, 2021, Audience and SEO, Social Storytelling, content planning, persuasive writing, Analytics and optimization, social media, Headline Crafting and Long and Direct Copy.
• TEFL certificate

• Mellon Foundation Fellow (2016-present)
• Centre for Humanities Research Flagship scholar (2018-present)
• Toastmasters facilitator and contributor through the School of Languages and Literatures Department, Rhodes University (2024)
• South African Association of Academic Literacy Practitioners member (2024)
• African Language Association of Southern Africa (ALASA) (2024)

• The language factor in students' experience of assessments, Mndende, 2022, University of the Western Cape, https://etd.uwc.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11394/9230/mndende_m_art_2022.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
• African Languages as Languages of Assessment: Student's Experiences in Multilingualism in Society and Education course, Antia & Mndende, in press
• Colonial Legacies and Market Realities: Advancing Language Equity in South African Education through African Languages, submitted for review

• Decolonising Africa: Insights from Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah, Tsitsi Dangarembga, and Ignatius Mabasa, Mndende & Banda, 2024, https://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/decolonizingafricainsightsfromprofessorkwesikwaaprahtsitsidangarembga-1.html
• FEEL GOOD | 'I finally have my arms around my son': Mom reunites with her son after 40 years apart, Mndende & Mamacos, 2022, https://www.news24.com/life/archive/feel-good-i-finally-have-my-arms-around-my-son-mom-reunites-with-her-son-after-40-years-apart-20220729
• Mathematics with Nqayiya makes top 10 at the Junior Chamber International SA awards 2021, Mndende, 2021, https://www.news24.com/life/archive/mathematics-with-nqayiya-makes-top-10-at-the-junior-chamber-international-sa-awards-2021-20211123
• EC matriculants share their thoughts on the final mother tongue Exam paper, Mndende, 2020, https://www.news24.com/life/archive/ec-matriculants-share-their-thoughts-on-the-final-mother-tongue-exam-paper-20201002
• Blended learning is a viable option for South Africa, but the 'appetite for corruption is rife', Mndende & Dube, 2021, https://www.news24.com/life/archive/blended-learning-is-a-viable-option-for-south-africa-but-appetite-for-corruption-is-rife-20211104
• First-ever Academy for Multilingualism to promote three Indigenous languages at UFS, Mndende & Van Aardt, 2021, https://www.news24.com/life/archive/first-ever-academy-for-multilingualism-to-promote-three-indigenous-languages-at-ufs-20210428
• This will transform lives: First-ever trilingual Kaaps dictionary in development, Mndende & Williams, 2021, https://www.news24.com/life/archive/this-will-transform-lives-first-ever-trilingual-kaaps-dictionary-in-development-20210804
• Eastern Cape matric to test writing exams in their mother tongue, Mndende, 2021, https://www.news24.com/life/archive/eastern-cape-matrics-to-test-writing-exams-in-mother-tongue-20200907

• From linguistics prejudice to social injustice: Accounting for the language in educational assessment, Mndende, 2019, SSRC-Mellon Mays Graduate Student Summer Conference at Columbia University, USA
• How does mass media like magazines perpetuate gender stereotypes? A reflection on how women are represented in Magazines, Mndende, 2016, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
• Advancing multilingualism as practice in academic literacy, The First International Conference of the South African Association of Academic Literacy Practitioners, 2024
• Re-imagining the role of African Languages for Social Justice and Transformation in the Digital Age, The 25th ALASA Conference, 2024
• The language factor in students' experience of assessments, Mndende, 2023, Department of African Languages, Rhodes University, CPGS, Shaking the Table
• The intellectualization of African Languages: Findings on the need for different language arrangements for assessment in higher education and basic education, Mndende, 2023, Social Sciences Research Council/Mellon Regional Conference
• Translanguaging in the context of assessment: MTBBE Project in the EC, a historic milestone for multilingual assessment, Mndende, 2023, Isintu and Marketing Conference hosted by CPUT Business School, District Six Campus, Cape Town
• The use of Afrikaans, IsiXhosa and English for assessment and teaching in UWC, Mndende, 2020, Centre for Humanities Research Flagship, UWC
• Multilingualism for assessment. Presenting findings from my honors research, Mndende, 2020, UNCF/Mellon Regional Conference at Premier Hotels and Resort, Cape Town
• Language, Social Justice, and Examinations: Understanding the concepts of Citizenship in a Multilingual Democracy, Mndende, 2018, Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Community Writing Event and the MMUF September Regional Conference held at the FNB Conference Center, Sandton

• Doctoral Fellowship, NRF SARCHI Chair: Intellectualization of African Languages, Multilingualism and Education, 30 Cofimvaba Schools, 2023
• SSRC-Mellon Mays Graduates Travel and Research Grant, The language factor in students' assessment experience, University of the Western Cape, 2022
• Department of Arts and Culture research grant, The language factor in students' experience of assessments, University of the Western Cape, 2021
• Centre for Humanities Research Flagship, The language factor in students' experience of assessments, University of the Western Cape, 2020-2018
• SSRC-Mellon Mays Graduate Initiatives Programs - Predoctoral Research Grant, 2018-current
• Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, University of the Western Cape, 2016

• Dean's Merit Awards (2017)
• Golden Key Honor's Society Member (2016)
• Mellon Mays Undergraduate Award for Top 5 Researchers in Humanities

• Ms Lizzie Magobeya, Campus Manager, AAA School of Advertising, magobeyalizzie11@gmail.com, 0783436788
• Prof. Amiena Peck, Tutor Coordinator, Linguistics Department, University of the Western Cape, apeck@uwc.ac.za, 072 993 372
• Mrs Nicola Viljoen, Academic Manager, Inscape Education Group, Nicola.Viljoen@inscape.co.za, +27 71 440 1924
• Mr Herman Eloff, Lifestyle Editor, News 24, Herman.Eloff@24.com, +27 71 369 5615

Graphic Design

• Layout and composition
• UX/UI Design
• Design Theory
• Fundamentals of Design
• Typography, colour theory and illustration
• Website creation and App creation
• Editing, fonts and Typefacing
• User personas, Wireframing and Scriptwriting

Art direction/design practice (2nd and 3rd year students

• Process work, concept development, execution and advertising
• UX/UI Design and Interface
• Contemporary art and new media
• Podcasting, audio and Radio advertising
• Out of House (billboard), magazine, newspaper advertising
• Brand management
• Public relations (client relationships, branding, press releases and conflict management)
• Integrated Marketing Communication
• Social media marketing and strategy
• Video production
• Brand marketing

Critical Media Studies

• Interactive history of media
• Media representation
• Storytelling
• Content planning
• Persuasive writing
• Headline writing
• Ethical News reporting
• Design Thinking
• Mass Media
• Report writing, press writing, newsletter writing and email marketing

Digital Communication and Marketing

• Digital communication strategy
• Keyword research
• Content Strategy
• Marketing and Content Strategy
• SEO optimization and ranking
• Analytics
• Wireframing
• Website creation
• Developing bios, profile and vlog posts

Academic literacy and professional literacy

• Academic writing and report writing
• Writing and argument development
• Meaning making
• Critical thinking
• Language, grammar, spelling and editing

NEWS ARTICLES

Decolonising Africa: Insights from Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah, Tsitsi Dangarembga, and Ignatius Mabasa. 2024.

FEEL GOOD | 'I finally have my arms around my son': Mom reunites with her son after 40 years apart

Mathematics with Nqayiya makes top 10 at the Junior Chamber International SA awards 2021. 2022.

Mndende, Athenkosi. EC matriculants share their thoughts on the final mother tongue Exam paper. 2020

Mndende, Athenkosi. Blended learning is a viable option for South Africa, but the 'appetite for corruption is rife'. 2021.

Mndende, Athenkosi. First-ever Academy for Multilingualism to promote three Indigenous languages at UFS. 2021.

Mndende, Athenkosi. 'This will transform lives': First-ever trilingual Kaaps dictionary in development. 2021.

Mndende, Athenkosi. Eastern Cape matric to test writing exams in their mother tongue.

PRESENTATIONS

The First International Conference of the South African Association of Academic Literacy Practitioners. Advancing multilingualism as practice in academic literacy. 2024.

The 25thALASA Conference. Re-imagining the role of African Languages for Social Justice and Transformation in the Digital Age. 2024.

Mndende, Athenkosi (2023). The language factor in students' experience of assessments. Department of African Languages. Rhodes University. CPGS, Shaking the Table.

Mndende, Athenkosi (2023). The intellectualization of African Languages: Findings on the need for different language arrangements for assessment in higher education and basic education. Social Sciences Research Council/Mellon Regional Conference.

Mndende, Athenkosi. (2023). Translanguaging in the context of assessment: MTBBE Project in the EC, a historic milestone for multilingual assessment. Isintu and Marketing Conference hosted by CPUT Business School. District Six Campus, Cape Town.

Mndende, Athenkosi (2020). The use of Afrikaans, IsiXhosa and English for assessment and teaching in UWC. Paper presented on Zoom for the Centre for Humanities Research Flagship, UWC. June 2020. Summer school and fellow participation.

Mndende, Athenkosi (Jan 2020). Multilingualism for assessment. Presenting findings from my honors research. UNCF/Mellon Regional Conference at Premier Hotels and Resort.

Mndende, Athenkosi. (2019). 'From linguistics prejudice to social injustice: Accounting for the language in educational assessment'. SSRC-Mellon Mays Graduate Student Summer Conference at Columbia University, USA.

Mndende, Athenkosi. (2018) Language, Social Justice, and Examinations: Understanding the concepts of Citizenship in a Multilingual Democracy. Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Community Writing Event and the MMUF September Regional Conference held at the FNB Conference Center, Sandton

Mndende, Athenkosi. (2016). 'How does mass media like magazines perpetuate gender stereotypes? A reflection on how women are represented in Magazines.'