Power couple achieves academic milestone: married duo graduate from Green Templeton

Dr Reshania Naidoo and Mishern Chetty graduated together in March among a cohort of 31 graduands who received their degrees at the Sheldonian Theatre, including four who have completed their DPhils.

Reshania (MSc International Health and Tropical Medicine, 2019) preceded her husband Mishern (MBA, 2021) as a student at college, but they were able to celebrate their successes in parallel.

Reshania finished her course with distinction and was Class President. During her studies Mishern, as a partner and Associate Member of college served on the Equality and Diversity Forum and the GCR Committee to elevate the voices of students’ family, an inclusion initiative that was pioneered by the college, encouraged by then-Principal and Honorary Fellow Professor Denise Lievesley. Denise and her partner Roland Rosner were able to offer their personal congratulations at their graduation on a surprise fleeting visit in college.

Mishern spoke of how his engagement with the college as an Associate Member in turn led to his studies,

‘As a result of feeling so connected with GTC, and inspired by Reshania, I decided to complete my Oxford MBA as a GTC student in 2021/22, served the Saïd Business School community as a Co-President of the Students’ Council and was fortunate to be awarded a spot the Dean’s Merit List and the Dean’s Commendation.’

Reshania and Mishern now offer their support as members of the Oxford alumni community, with Reshania continuing her affiliation as a Nuffield Department of Medicine Global Health Teaching Fellow and as a co-lead of the EY-Oxford Health Analytics Consortium, a pandemic preparedness strategic research partnership between the University of Oxford and Ernst & Young and will also be supporting developing the college’s Management in Medicine Programme.

At the celebrations, Principal Sir Michael Dixon talked about the challenges this cohort faced with studying during the pandemic, but said he ‘has no doubt that they will not only try to, but will go on to change the world.’

College was delighted to welcome Dr Shobhana (Shobi) Nagraj (DPhil Women’s and Reproductive Health, 2017), to speak to the group about her experience as a student, the incredible work she’s done since, and her recent return to college as a fellow where she has consistently found a sense of support and community.

Green Templeton congratulates Mishern, Reshania and all those who graduated, and welcomes them to its growing international alumni network.