Staff Faculty: Social Sciences

Dr. Sophia Thabane obtained her Ph.D and MSW from the University of KwaZulu Natal while her BSW was obtained from University of Zimbabwe. Before joining National University of Lesotho (NUL), where she is currently a Social Work Lecturer, Dr. Thabane worked for the Department of Social Welfare and worked as Lecturer and Researcher for University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Apart from practical and teaching experience in Social Work, Dr. Thabane has published in the areas of field practice in social work training, psychosocial factors aggravating spread of HIV in Lesotho as well protection/welfare of vulnerable populations such as older people and children.

Dr. Xavier Rosario is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work and he has published papers in top-tier journals. He also supervises postgraduate dissertation and undergraduate social work research projects. He teaches courses for master’s programmes such as Individual Psychopathology, Clinical social work Intervention with Individuals and Bachelors programme courses such as Introduction to Psychology for Social Workers, Social Work with individuals and families, Social Work Theories, Counselling Processes and Skills. His research interests clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Mental health of the Helping professionals and Human Resource Management.

Dr. Priya James is a Lecturer in Social Work. She has twelve years of experience in teaching, research, community engagement and fieldwork services at postgraduate and undergraduate level in different universities. She has a good publication record in peer reviewed journals and presented papers at both national and international conferences. She also supervises postgraduate dissertation and undergraduate social work research projects. She teaches the following courses for masters level Clinical social work with groups, Clinical social work with families and couples and graduate level quantitative social work research method, Social Psychology and Human Behaviour, Trauma informed social work and other social work related subjects. Her research interests are Clinical Social Work, and Medical & Psychiatry.

Mrs P. M. Mahao is a lecturer in Social Work and teaches the following courses among others: Introduction to social work theory and practice, Principles and Practice of Rehabilitation, Child Welfare Policy and legislation, Child Welfare Practice, Integrated Social Work Methods, Adult Development and Aging, Social Protection and Developmental Social Work, Community Work. She also coordinates and supervises fieldwork practice. In addition, she supervises social work research projects at 4th level and co-supervises thesis writing at Masters level. She was also an FSS fourth year tutor in the academic years: 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. She further represents SASW department in various strategic committees including HIV/AIDS and National OVC Coordinating committee. Her research and community engagement interests include: child welfare issues, disability and rehabilitation, older persons, social development issues, developmental micro finance and community work issues.

Mr. Sehlabane is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Social Work. He instructs in courses such as Professional Relationships and Communication for Social Workers, Social Work with Communities, Social Work Administration, Socio-Economic Development and Management of Social Welfare Organizations. He also supervises undergraduate research projects. His research interests are in criminological issues, issues related to the elderly and young persons. He also offers voluntary work with selected organisations that target the youths.

Simbai Mushonga is a Lecturer in Social Work. Her research interests focus is resilience theory – how people, particularly individuals and families, bounce back from adversity, or even succeed in the face/wake of adversity. She is currently studying the interactional resilience processes of students raised in substance abusing homes for her PhD. She teaches several undergraduate courses and supervises projects in Social Work. Among the courses that she teaches are Introduction to social work, Social work methods, Risk & Resilience: A strength Perspective, Social Diversity and Development, Theories and Perspectives of Mental Illness and Project Management & Entrepreneurship.

Ts’epang Manyeli teaches courses on social work administration, social psychology, and community care and project management. Her areas of expertise and interest include, project management, psycho- therapy, community & social development, community care, social security, social protection and child welfare.

Ms. Thandie Hlabana is a well-rounded, multidisciplinary social scientist interested in advancing socio-demographic research, policy development and human rights advocacy in Lesotho and Southern Africa. Her research interests include HIV and AIDS drivers and impacts; Children and Youth development and outcomes; Fatherhood; Gender dynamics focusing on African masculinity; and Aging. She’s currently a research fellow at the University of Dundee working on “Growing up on the Streets Project in Ghana, Zimbabwe and DRC”. She is also working with University of Cape Town and Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing on Care of Older Persons in Southern Africa Network. In collaboration with University of Brunel and others she has been recipient of a three year research grant by UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Department for International Development (DFID) looking at Social Cash Transfers, Generational Relations and Youth Poverty Trajectories in Lesotho and Malawi. In addition, she is a recipient of a USAID fund to analyze Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey data. Regarding policy development, she has drafted three national policies for Lesotho – Lesotho Housing Policy, Lesotho Policy for Older Persons (adopted in 2014) and Lesotho National Population Policy for Sustainable Development (LNPPSD). She is also a representative in the following bodies: Coordinator of NUL Faculty of Social Science Research Seminars, and member of Research and Conferencing Committee; member of the National Health Research Ethics Committee; Secretary General of the Union for African Population Studies; Scientific Committee member of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population; and former president of Population Association of Southern Africa.