Organisation
Maarja Beerkens appointed as Vice-Dean
The Executive Board has appointed Dr. Maarja Beerkens as the new Vice-Dean of our faculty. Maarja has been fulfilling this role on an interim basis since May of this year. Her appointment will take effect on 1st December for a period of four years. She is also an Associate Professor at the Institute of Public Administration. For six years, she has served as the Director of Education in the Institute's governance of Public Administration. Through this role, Maarja has gained substantial administrative experience in various educational matters.
Maarja is pleased and proud: ‘I would like to thank everyone for the trust they have placed in me by appointing me as Vice-Dean. The past few months have been both enjoyable and instructive. The times ahead will be challenging, but our faculty is strong and innovative. In addition to exciting developments within education, such as new programmes and technological innovations, I fear we will also need to work hard to secure the future of our international faculty. I have full confidence that, together with my colleagues at the institutes and centres, we will rise to the challenge.’
Dean Koen Caminada is very pleased with Maarja Beerkens' appointment. "With this, the faculty gains a top leader who, both from her experience and scientific work, truly understands higher education policy. Moreover, Maarja has an excellent track record in effectively implementing policy changes, always managing to secure broad support for them. With her warm, engaging, and pleasant leadership style, Maarja will be a welcome addition to the diverse teams she will lead and chair. Students really connect with her. In short, the faculty board, the institute boards, and the directors of education are looking forward to working with Maarja."
About the procedure
Koen Caminada, in consultation with the Rector and the scientific directors of the institutes and our Faculty Council, set up a search committee tasked with investigating potential candidates who qualify and are available for the role of Vice-Dean. The committee was instructed to report its findings to the Rector, the faculty board, the institute boards, and the centre directors of FGGA.
The search committee consisted of Prof. Dr. Sanneke Kuipers from ISGA (Chair), Dr. Toon Kerkhoff from Public Administration, and Drs. Mirjam van den Brand BBA from LUC. In discussions about the motivation, vision, and responsibilities of the Vice-Dean position, Sarah Chen, the student representative on the Public Administration Institute Board, was also involved to provide the student perspective.