It is jokingly said that in retirement every day is Happy Boss’s Day. We truly hope that this is how Alwine Naude, former alumni coordinator on the NWU’s campus in Vanderbijlpark, is enjoying her retirement.

Alwine retired at the end of 2016, after spending 10 years on this campus. Her journey at the NWU started on 1 January 2006 as a student advisor and later a senior recruiter within the then Department of Marketing and Communication.

 

During those early years she was also tasked with establishing a fully fledged alumni office on campus – a feat that took thousands of hours of networking and relationship building. Under her guidance, the campus’s alumni fraternity database grew to more than 15 000 members and the first Alumni Advisory Committee was introduced.

 

Alwine’s alma mater

 

As an alumna of the then Potchefstroom University of Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE), Alwine obtained a BA Social Science degree in 1973 (social work), followed by a Certificate in Labour Relations in 1982. During her student days, Alwine stayed in the Oosterhof and Kasteel residences, was a member of the PU for CHE choir and was elected as the first-ever Primaria of the Kasteel residence.

 

The role of alumni coordinator fitted Alwine like a glove, since she not only had fond memories of her student days at Potchefstroom, but came to realise first-hand the important role that alumni play after graduating.

 

Doing her bit

 

Even before joining the NWU as a member of staff, while she was still a senior personnel officer of UCAR South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Alwine became involved with various initiatives associated with the university and so it was no surprise that she jumped at the chance to work at her alma mater.

 

While at the NWU, in 2010, she obtained a BAHons in theology from the campus in Vanderbijlpark.

 

And what does the future hold for Alwine? “I am still learning and at the moment I am trying to (re)master the art of looking after my five-year old granddaughter, Caitlin.” Alwine has three daughters and four grandchildren.