Senate Elects First Student Pro-Rector in the History of the University

Prof. Dr. Ralf Schneider (l.) and Hennis Herbst (r.), © Lukas Voigt, 2022
Prof. Dr. Ralf Schneider (l.) and Hennis Herbst (r.), © Lukas Voigt, 2022

The University of Greifswald’s Senate elected two new Pro-Rectors in an online election on 16 February 2022. Student Hennis Herbst is now the first Student Pro-Rector at the University of Greifswald. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Ralf Schneider was elected as successor to Prof. Dr. Lars Kaderali. Prof. Kaderali resigned from office due to the increasing burden of his advisory roles for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s State Government and the Federal Council of Experts during the coronavirus pandemic.

By amending the University’s Grundordnung (Basic Regulations) at the end of 2020, the Senate had already paved the way for extending the number of Pro-Rectors from previously two to four and to enable the election of a student Pro-Rector. This will make it possible to incorporate the student point of view in the University’s strategic development. The freshly elected Pro-Rectors have already accepted the vote and enter into office immediately.

Brief introduction to the new Pro-Rectors

Prof. Dr. Ralf Schneider (Professor of Computational Science and Director of the University Computer Centre)
He is Pro-Rector for the fields of research, digitisation and transfer.
‘We must recognise the challenge posed by digitisation in all areas of the University as an opportunity that we must make the most of. With its close-knit community and the possibility of direct communication, Greifswald as an academic location is well suited for connecting multidisciplinary research. It makes it possible to secure excellence for the future and to sustainably establish application-oriented fields of research. My new role as Pro-Rector will profit from my long experience as a scientist at the University and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics. I can also refer to my experience in international research projects and as an external reviewer, as well as my IT competence as Director of the University Computer Centre and as CIO.’

Hennis Herbst (student, Political Science, Public Law)
He is the University of Greifswald’s first Student Pro-Rector.
‘I would like to thank the Senate for placing its trust in me and am delighted about this positive development for student participation at the University. The university town of Greifswald will profit even further from the wealth of ideas and energy brought in by the students. I aim to focus on the topics of sustainability and student culture.’


Contacts at the University of Greifswald

Chairman of the Senate
Prof. Dr. Uwe Bornscheuer
Tel.: +49 3834 420 4367
senatuni-greifswaldde

University Communications
Jan Meßerschmidt
Tel.: +49 3834 420 1150
pressestelleuni-greifswaldde

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