Prof C.J.G. Bender obtained a Doctoral degree in Education in 1990 from the University of Pretoria.  She currently serves as a full professor in the Department of Educational Foundations and Management. Her teaching and training philosophy in the period spanning of 32 years includes promoting teaching excellence within a flexible learning paradigm.The pedagogy and method that she implemented in most of her modules and research relate to community-engaged teaching and learning. She has received prestigious awards for her teaching excellence.  She is nationally and internationally acknowledged for her expertise and leadership in community engagement; engaged teaching and research. She has published several articles and book chapters in this subject.  Her current main areas of research interest and experience are in educational leadership and management and she supervises masters and doctoral projects in this area.