Professor Gugu Mchunu (B. Soc Sci (Nursing), M. Nursing., PhD), is an Associate Professor and Academic Leader in the Discipline of Nursing. She is an InternatFord Foundation programme Alumna. While studying towards her degrees she has received prestigious scholarships and bursaries from the Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation International Program and National Research Foundation. As a Ford Foundation Fellow she completed her PhD through a sandwich programme between University of KwaZulu-Natal and Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, US. She started her first job as a professional nurse at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial, working in theatre high care unit, in 1994. In the same year she relocated to the Northern Cape and worked as an occupational health nurse at PPC Lime, in Lime Acres, Kimberley until 1996. After serving another 3 years in the local community Health Centre, Danielskuil Gemeenskaap Gesondhuid Sentrum, (Danielskuil Community Health Centre) she finally returned to KwaZulu-Natal in 2000. Professor Mchunu started her academic career at the then University of Natal, School of Nursing in 2000 working as a junior lecturer in Community Health Nursing. She then progressed obtaining her Masters in nursing degree (2000-2001) until she obtained her PhD in 2008, and became a Senior lecturer in 2010.

Nursing