BIOSKETCH
Dr Zandile Marilyn Shezi is a qualified audiologist who has been practising since 2008. She completed her Bachelor of Communication Pathology (Audiology) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in 2007, followed by a Master’s degree (cum laude) and a PhD in Audiology from the same institution. She is also a certified mapping audiologist and a Listening and Spoken Language South Africa (LSLSA) certified therapist. Dr Shezi served as an academic at UKZN from 2011 to 2023. She currently holds an Honorary Appointment at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where she supervises Master’s and PhD students within the Discipline of Audiology. She is now a Senior Teaching Fellow in Audiology at the Hearing and Balance Centre (HABC) at the University of Southampton (UK), where she leads Part 1 of the undergraduate audiology programme. Her responsibilities include undergraduate teaching, clinical supervision, postgraduate research supervision, and coordinating taster placements for first‑year students across NHS and private‑sector settings. Dr Shezi also contributes to institutional equity and inclusion as the Athena Swan Flexible/Part‑time Working Subgroup Lead, advocating for supportive and inclusive academic practices. Her research interests span diagnostic audiology, hearing aids, implantable hearing devices (including cochlear implants), the intersection of psychosis/mental health conditions and hearing loss, rehabilitation, and early diagnosis and intervention, with a particular focus on qualitative research methodologies. She is a dedicated mentor to Health Sciences students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds at UKZN and partner schools, especially those supported through bursary programmes.
