by PsySSA-Web Support | Oct 22, 2025
I am a Senior Psychology Lecturer at Cornerstone Institute with nearly a decade of experience in lecturing, research supervision, farming, and previous management roles in the retail and hospitality sectors. I am proficient in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and analyses, module and curriculum development, moderation, assessment development, and online teaching technologies. I obtained a Master of Arts in Research Psychology (structured) from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in 2016 and am currently reading for a Ph.d. in Psychology at the same institution. I have had the privilege of presenting at the Council on Higher Education (CHE), Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA), at the Monash University Australia conference, and other institutions. Above all, I love people- especially my wife and two children- and aspire to make a meaningful difference in my communities.
by PsySSA-Web Support | Oct 22, 2025
Arianna Fadda holds a MA in Social and Psychological Research from the University of the Witwatersrand as well as a BSocSci Honours in Psychology and a BA Psychology from the University of Pretoria, all obtained with distinction. Following her studies, she completed an approved internship programme at the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) based at the North-West University, after which she successfully sat her board exam and registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Research Psychologist in 2024.
She has previously worked as an independent research consultant and psychology lecturer, and currently holds a permanent position as an Analyst in the primary data unit of a development research consulting firm where she is involved in all stages of the research lifecycle from proposal writing, survey development and fieldwork to data management, quality control and reporting.
Arianna is a published author and actively contributes to psychology student development, holding mentorship roles and leading PsySSA’s Research Psychology board exam preparation workshops. Her research interests include critical psychology, public health, teaching and learning in psychology, mental health and psychometric scale validation.
by PsySSA-Web Support | Oct 22, 2025
Erica Munnik is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and a registered Clinical Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. She has more than 20 years of experience in clinical practice, teaching, and research, with a strong focus on psychological assessment, test development and mental wellbeing. Erica’s doctoral research led to the development of the Emotional Social Screening Tool for School Readiness (E3SR), which has since been revised, standardised, and translated into multiple South African languages. She has published widely, presented nationally and internationally, and secured research funding to advance culturally relevant assessment practices. Erica is a passionate teacher and mentor who has supervised numerous Master’s and PhD students, many of whom have achieved distinction and contributed to scholarly publications. Alongside her academic role, she maintains a limited private practice, consults on psychometric matters, and engages communities through workshops and media contributions on child development and mental wellness.
She will serve as an executive member of PsySSA’s Division for Research and Methodology (DRM) from 2025-2027 and has been a member of the International Test Commission (ITC) since 2024, reflecting her commitment to advancing psychology both nationally and globally.
