Prof Sheldon holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Cape Peninsula University of Technology and has 24 years’ experience in higher education. Rising through the academic ranks since joining CPUT in 1999, she was promoted to an Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering in 2009. After serving as Assistant Dean of Engineering and the Built Environment, in 2015, she was appointed Dean, a position she has held until now.
She also acted as DVC: Research, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships from 2017 to 2020. Prof Sheldon was responsible for the establishment of the Pan African University Space Science Institute (PAUSSI) at CPUT as the host Institution.
She is an NRF C2 rated researcher and has successfully graduated 14 masters and four doctoral students.
She has extensive experience in serving on boards and councils such as the Water Institute of South Africa’s Membrane Technology Division, the Deans Advisory Committee of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA); the Western Cape Education Department Council; and the South African Society for Engineering Education (SASEE) Board. Furthermore, Prof Sheldon is the Chair of the Governance Board of the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) and participates in the Global Engineering Dean’s Council (GEDC) and the African Engineering Education Association (AEEA).