Ruth Teer-Tomaselli is a Full Professor and a Fellow of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.  She holds a B-rating from the National Research Foundation.  From 2002 to 2014 she has held a UNESCO Chair in Communications for South Africa.  Teer-Tomaselli was the Deputy Dean (Post-Graduate Studies) for the Faculty of Humanities, Development and Social Science from 2009-2011, having previously held the position in an Acting capacity from 2007-2009. She is a member of the International Association for Media and Communication Research, and has served as the Vice-President of the Association from 2008-2012, as well as being a member of the International Council for several years. She is a member of the South African Association for Communication (SACOMM), and served a two-year period as President (2008-2009) following two years as Vice-President (2006-2007).

Teer-Tomaselli’s current research interests cover the political economy of the media; broadcasting (both governance and content); South African and African media history; and memory studies with a particular emphasis on mediated-memories.  She has written on political cartooning and political communication.

In her private life she is an avid gardener with a special interest in bonsai trees.