Author: Irshaad Suliman
On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, AVReQ hosted a special in-house Brown Bag Lunch to celebrate Dr Anell Stacey Daries and her onward journey as she prepares to join the Department of History at North-West University as Senior Lecturer from July 2026.
The gathering brought together colleagues, students, fellows, and friends of the Centre to reflect on Dr Daries contributions to AVReQ and to celebrate a scholar whose intellectual generosity, mentorship, and commitment to transformative education have left a lasting mark on the Centre’s community.
Opening the event, AVReQ Director Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela reflected on Dr Daries arrival at the Centre years ago and the energy and intellectual vitality she brought to AVReQ from the outset. While acknowledging the significance of her appointment at North-West University, Professor Gobodo-Madikizela also situated the moment within broader conversations about institutional transformation and the importance of retaining young Black scholars, particularly women, within South African higher education.
The centrepiece of the event was a conversation between Dr Daries and Dr Sofia Sanan. Together they reflected on Dr Daries academic journey, her experiences as a postgraduate scholar and lecturer, and her thoughts on the future of higher education.
Throughout the discussion, Dr Daries highlighted the importance of the humanities and social sciences in cultivating critical thinking, nuance, and ethical engagement with the world. Reflecting on contemporary debates around artificial intelligence and higher education, she emphasised the need for universities to communicate the value of humanities education beyond skills training alone. Rather than focusing solely on outcomes, she advocated for a process-driven approach to education that prioritises learning, intellectual development, and critical engagement.
The conversation also explored Dr Daries evolving research interests, including her work on histories of the body, pedagogy, and the future of history education. She spoke about the importance of collaborative intellectual work and the need to think alongside colleagues, students, and scholars across generations as universities navigate rapidly changing social and technological landscapes.
A recurring theme throughout the event was the role of community in shaping academic lives. Dr Daries reflected on her own journey from the University of the Western Cape, where the student movements of 2015 profoundly shaped her intellectual and political development. She spoke movingly about the mentors, teachers, and colleagues who invested in her growth as a scholar and helped create opportunities for her to flourish.
Equally significant was her reflection on the importance of representation in the classroom. As a young Black woman academic, she noted the impact that educators can have simply through their presence, particularly for students who may not have previously seen themselves reflected within the academy. She described teaching as a space of possibility, where a single meaningful encounter can transform a student’s understanding of themselves and their future.
Audience members joined the conversation by reflecting on Dr Daries remarkable academic trajectory, her commitment to mentorship, and the example she has set for emerging scholars navigating historically exclusionary institutions. Questions and reflections touched on themes of institutional change, postgraduate study, intellectual courage, and the responsibilities of scholarship in contemporary South Africa.
Looking ahead to her new role at North-West University, Dr Daries shared her excitement about future research projects, particularly those focused on institutional histories, archives, pedagogy, and the relationship between knowledge, power, and social transformation.
The event concluded with heartfelt tributes from colleagues and friends, who reflected not only on Dr Daries scholarly achievements but also on her generosity, friendship, and unwavering commitment to building intellectual community. While her departure marks the end of an important chapter for AVReQ, the conversations, collaborations, and relationships she has helped cultivate will continue to shape the Centre’s work in the years ahead.
AVReQ extends its deepest gratitude to Dr Anell Stacey Daries for her many contributions to the Centre and wishes her every success as she embarks on this exciting new chapter of her academic journey.
Irshaad Suliman is a master’s student working towards a MA in History through AVReQ at Stellenbosch University (SU). He holds a BA in Anthropology and History from the University of the Free State (UFS) and an Honours in History from the University of the Western Cape (UWC). He began his career as a Digitisation Assistant at the UWC-Robben Island Museum-Mayibuye Archives. His research interests explore historical justice, deaths in detention, human rights, memory, and anti-apartheid activism in South Africa. Through archival research, forensic evidence, and legal analysis, he uncovers overlooked narratives, contributing to discussions on justice, accountability, and historical memory.