Prof Nokuthula Kunene is currently a DVC Research and Innovation in the University of Zululand since June, 2021. She obtains the A BSc Agric (University of Swaziland, 1992), MSc Agric (Animal Science, 1997) (University of Natal-UKZN), PhD Agric. (Animal Science,2010) (University of KwaZulu Natal). She Kunene started working as a lecturer in the University of Zululand 1999, became a senior lecturer and Head of the Agriculture Department in 2011 and became a research Fellow in the University of Perugia, Italy in August, 2011- February, 2012. She became an Associate Professor and Deputy Dean for Research in 2013 and became Professor and Dean of Faculty of Science and Agriculture in 2017.

Prof Kunene was teaching animal breeding and genetics and livestock production and has been conducting research on the phenotypic and genetic characterisation of indigenous livestock and poultry. The characterisation of indigenous livestock was initiated by characterising the indigenous Zulu sheep which then led to goats and indigenous chickens. The main aim was to establish the resilience of these animals with the potential to be a food resource in the rural areas of KwaZulu Natal because they require less input than the exotic breeds. The Zulu sheep have since been conserved in Irene, in Pretoria based on the finding of these studies. At least 30 publications emanated from the indigenous animal studies. She involved 29 post graduate students that completed their degrees on the characterisation of indigenous livestock. Prof Kunene has worked on various community projects in northern KwaZulu Natal where she started animal improvement projects for production and conservation. She has presented the findings of the Indigenous animal research in national and international conferences and meetings held in South Africa, Ethiopia, Denmark and Italy, USA, Hungary.

She has reviewed various animal science including the South African Journal of Animal Science, Tropical Animal Health, Scientific Research and Essays and African Journal of Biotechnology. She has been a member of South African Society of Animal Science, South African Council for National Scientific Professions, South African Life Science and Agriculture Deans Association. Member of National Deans Forum and Deputy Vice Chancellor Research Forum.