?
In the bustling marketing office of Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Florence de Vries has carved out more than just a career, she's built a platform for change. As head of Marketing and Communications, she oversees everything from media relations to the Dean's Report, but it's her deeper commitment to mental health advocacy and inclusive communication that truly defines her impact.
De Vries' journey to Tygerberg Campus began in the newsrooms of Cape Town, where she spent eight years as a journalist at Die Burger and Cape Times' Business Report. Armed with degrees from UCT and Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 – including a master's in journalism – she transitioned from reporting the news to shaping institutional narratives, first at insurance giant Santam, then joining the Faculty's communications team in 2017.
She was promoted to division head in 2023, but the path wasn't without its challenges. “The role of this division is often deeply misunderstood," she reflects. De Vries has become a fierce advocate for demonstrating the value of marketing and communication in academic settings, recognising that effective marketing and communication is crucial for advancing medical education and research.
Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in her work as project lead for the Tygerberg Campus 'singing rock' visual redress initiative. This bold undertaking was more than an aesthetic improvement, it demonstrated her commitment to inclusion, where respect for all South African languages converges with art that invites reflection. The project showcases how thoughtful communication can foster belonging in academic spaces.
De Vries brings this same intentionality to mental health advocacy, an area where she has made significant contributions. Her work on the national CrazySocks4Docs campaign earned a Gold Award from the Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education organisation. More importantly, she actively contributes to publications exploring diverse aspects of mental wellbeing, and is a strong advocate for dismantling mental illness stigma, particularly as it's reinforced through media representation.
This advocacy isn't just professional, it's deeply personal. The past five years brought profound loss as de Vries cared for and eventually lost both parents within a painfully short timeframe. Rather than diminish her, this experience seems to have amplified her compassion and determination. “They were both advocates of education," she says of her parents, who instilled in her and her sister “a deep respect for learning, encouraging us to be scholars of life and to remain curious."
That curiosity – and perhaps a touch of inherited feistiness – comes through in her reflections on her late mother, Marilyn. De Vries recalls how her mother deliberately refused to teach her to cook, insisting she concentrate solely on pursuing knowledge and personal growth. This unconventional approach to parenting clearly worked, producing a daughter unafraid to challenge conventions and advocate for change.
Ask de Vries about her favourite aspect of the job, and her face lights up. “Honestly, my colleagues are the best thing about my job," she says, recounting how a recent colleague interaction prompted someone to ask, somewhat puzzled, why they seemed so happy together. “It stayed with me," she reflects. “It is a privilege to work with people who bring warmth and humour to the workplace, while also committed to delivering world-class communication."
She admires Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka for prioritising mental health over competition, Arundhati Roy for fearless social justice advocacy, Naledi Pandor for her dedication to South African education, and Susan Sontag for bridging literature, politics and art. These women share a common thread: they refuse to shrink themselves or their convictions.
This theme emerges in de Vries' own advice to young women today: “Take the time to understand people, places and context but never shrink yourself into wallflower mode." She advises the use of language that preserves self-worth: “Begin by removing the word 'just' from your communication. For example, 'I was just checking on the status of that document'. That word alone subtly diminishes the self. Remove it."
?
