About
Nthatisi Quella is the Africa Office Director at the Harvard University Center for African Studies in Johannesburg, South Africa. She leads Harvard's regional partnerships and programmes across Africa, advancing collaboration in education, leadership development, and institutional innovation. With extensive experience in education, governance, and programme management, she has held leadership roles across Southern Africa and managed high-impact initiatives that expand learning and research opportunities for African students and scholars. She is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at Hult International Business School and is passionate about strengthening leadership and empowering young people across the continent.
Biography
Nthatisi Quella is the Africa Office Director at the Harvard University Center for African Studies, in Johannesburg, South Africa. She leads operations of the Africa Office and works closely with the Center’s Cambridge Office to implement Harvard’s regional strategy, partnerships, and programs across the continent. Her work sits at the intersection of education, leadership development, and institutional innovation, connecting Harvard’s global academic resources to African universities, public institutions, and social impact initiatives. With a distinguished career spanning education, leadership, governance, and programme management, she has taught in both rural and urban schools in Lesotho and has held leadership roles in teacher development, education management, and governance across South Africa. She has also served as a consultant for the Boston University African Language Program within the African Studies Center, contributing to the advancement of African language education. At Harvard University in the USA, she managed over $500,000 in annual grants to support student research and experiential learning in Africa, designed and led high-impact programs including fellowships, conferences, and postdoctoral initiatives that expand access to world-class education and research opportunities for African students and scholars. Nthatisi grounds her practice in continuous learning, currently pursuing an Executive MBA with Hult International Business in London. She completed the Women’s Leadership Program at Yale School of Management and multiple leadership and coaching programs at Harvard University, including Foundations of Leadership, Leadership Strategies. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education from the National University of Lesotho and a Master's Degree in Curriculum Development from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Nthatisi’s extensive experience and commitment to educational excellence continue to drive initiatives that strengthen leadership, expand learning opportunities, and empower young people across Africa.