My sister did the final oral examination with a 3-week old baby – all of this while also working full time in a corporate research role! Safe to say she’s the smarter sister – and I couldn’t be more proud.
Johannesburg, South Africa (26 May 2022) – Jessica van Jaarsveld just graduated with her PhD in Philosophy, and her sister could not be prouder!
Dani Silbermann took to Facebook to “shout from the rooftops” about her sister’s accomplishment! Read it below:
“At her graduation last week, Jess was the youngest PhD graduate by a decade or more.
One of the only ones published (three times), and certainly the only one published in an Oxford Journal. But not just any published piece… the Board of Oxford Development Studies awarded her the award for the best article published in each volume of the Oxford Journal – only awarded every two years.
Recently, Dr van Jaarsveld presented her work at conferences at the University of Washington (US), the University of Haifa (Israel) and Durham University (UK), as well as locally.
Undergrad, Honours and Masters all cum laude. Chancellors Medal for the best Masters in the Faculty of Humanities. Doctoral Global Excellence Scholarship.
In very unprecedented circumstances, her thesis made its way to a zoom panel of some of America’s most distinguished professors & philosophers. And she managed to successfully defend her work (face to face with the very philosophers she had challenged in her actual thesis).
She did this final oral examination last year with a 3-week old baby. All of this while also working full time in a corporate research role. Safe to say she’s the smarter sister – and I couldn’t be more proud.”
The post has inspired many who have seen it!
“Just remarkable!! I’m speechless and just love to see how proud you are and the love you have in your family!” – Sharon King Gabrielides
“My word!!! This is honestly spectacular!!! Mazeltov!!! Supergenius!” – Amy Pleaner
“Incredible and so well deserved! Mazal tov!!! I’d definitely be bragging if it were my sister.” – Esti Abelson
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