Professor Lisa Valencia Buwa-Komoreng is a trained botanist. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Fort Hare in 1999, obtained her MSc degree in Botany at Rhodes University in 2003, and further completed a doctoral degree in Botany at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2006. Her research interests are in the use of traditional medicinal plants as a source of medicine. Prof Buwa-Komoreng has assisted 23 Honours students, 8 MSc students, and 1 PhD student, is supervising 3 MSc and 7 PhD students, and has published 15 articles/conference proceedings in peer-reviewed journals. In the years 2015 – 2016 and 2018 – 2021, she was awarded the NRF Thuthuka Rating Track, which provides bursaries to Honours and Masters students. Professor Buwa-Komoreng previously served the University of Fort Hare as a laboratory assistant, postdoctoral fellow, and lecturer and is currently an associate professor. She is a leader of the Medicinal and Economic Development Plants Research Niche Area, which plays a pivotal role in the training and development of young scientists and researchers at the University. She is a member of the South African Association of Botanists and the Society for Medicinal Plants and Economic Development. She has reviewed several manuscripts for a number of journals on the DHET-accredited list and has examined dissertations and theses for a number of South African universities.