Prof Samuel Tshehla, who has served as Dean of the Faculty of Military Science (Military Academy) at Stellenbosch University since 2012, was appointed as the University’s Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs in February 2025. 

Prof Tshehla holds a BSc degree in Mathematical Science (1997), a BSc Honours in Applied Mathematics (1999), and an MSc in Applied Mathematics (2001), all from the University of the North (now University of Limpopo). He earned his PhD in Industrial Mathematics from the University of Cape Town in 2009, specialising in fluid dynamics.

He began his academic career as a junior lecturer in Applied Mathematics at the University of the North before joining the Department of Water Affairs in 2001, where he worked as a flood frequency analyst. In 2002, he joined the Military Academy as a Mathematics lecturer, later serving as Secundus Dean (2005–2011). In recognition of his academic contributions, he was promoted to Associate Professor in Mathematics.

In 2016, he was honoured with the Africa Education Leadership Award as Best Professor in Military Science.