Jay Pillay

Mrs Jayalakshmi (Jay) Pillay has twenty three years’ experience in Higher Education. She currently holds the post of Deputy Director of Residential Operations at Rhodes University Formal education, community outreach and work experience has provided her with an excellent foundation in the professional environment of Residential Operations and Student Support Services within the context of higher education.

• Qualified as a Food Technologist in 1989, with strong interest in food, nutrition and health.
• Graduated with MBA from Rhodes Business School in 2011
• Awarded Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Management-2021 from the University of Bath (UK)
• Attendance of the HER-SA Academy in September 2012 also sparked this interest in remaining in Higher Education and advancing her career to take on a leadership role in the Higher Education sector.

Community and environmental projects allowed for championing some of the student and community outreach in the following areas;

• The Worm Farm project (environmental)
• Home of Joy –Supporting safe house for children with HIV(Community)
• Child-Welfare Grahamstown – Ikhaya Losiso-fundraising and building of three safe-homes in the township (Vulnerable Community)
• Supporting Entrepreneurship through Enactus and HULT Prize as Faculty Advisor.
• Kuyasa Project- Creating employment opportunity for people with disabilities in Grahamstown. Partnership with Rhodes and Kuyasa
• Finalist in Grahamstown Citizen of the Year Award – Rotary Award
• Finalist in Woman of Inspiration Award – Radio Algoa –Eastern Cape