Dr Lindiwe Tsope thanked the school and Oprah Winfrey, calling the talk show host and philanthropist the “driver” of her dreams!
Eastern Cape, South Africa (09 May 2021) – Dr Lindiwe Tsope has become the first graduate of Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa to be awarded a PhD.
According to Rhodes University’s latest news, the 2021 graduation ceremony marked a special day in Tsope’s life and academic career, as she became the first Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) alumni to graduate with a PhD.
“Tsope, who arrived at Rhodes University as a first-year student in 2013, completed her doctoral degree in 2020 in a research area that proved significant for the betterment of the Rhodes University community. In her PhD research, Tsope focused on the topic of “a narrative study of students’ and staff’s experiences of living with HIV and AIDS at Rhodes University”.
Her research proved significant and was a conversation starter within the university community. The first of its kind at Rhodes University, the study looked into the lived experiences of both students and support staff living with HIV and AIDS at the University.
The research also served as important reference material for stakeholders such as peer educators and nurses, who wish to see genuine change and progress in the way HIV/AIDS is perceived and how it affects communities.
During the eight years she spent at the university, Tsope fulfilled several roles, including a tutor, mentor, teacher’s assistant, lecturer, and honours supervisor. It was during her experience as a lecturer from 2018 to 2020, that she received her most valuable lessons. As part of her scholarship requirement, she taught a ‘Social Research Methodology’ class at the undergraduate level. “I did not know how I was going to be received, especially as a young black female,” she said. Although it was a daunting and challenging task, she took the responsibility very seriously and tried to be as relatable as possible to the students,” Lindeka Namba, School of Journalism and Media Studies student explained.
The 24-year-old has just graduated with a master’s degree in Sociology from Rhodes University. Lindiwe has registered for her PhD in Sociology and hopes her research on HIV/Aids will influence current policy.

Tsope also held a number of leadership positions at Rhodes and was awarded the Investec Top 100 leaders award for 2 years in a row. Tsope thanked the school and Winfrey, calling the talk show host and philanthropist the “driver” of her dreams, in an interview released by Rhodes University on Monday.
“I cried for an hour when I received that last email that confirmed I had completed my qualification,” Tsope said, saying that it was the “greatest thing” she had done for herself.