Jacquelien Scherpen to be new Rector Magnificus of the University of Groningen

The UG Supervisory Board has appointed Prof. J.M.A. (Jacquelien) Scherpen (born in 1966) as Rector Magnificus and member of the Board of the University of Groningen. A positive advice has been granted by the consultative participation bodies. The appointment will cover a period of four years, starting on 1 September 2023. Jacquelien Scherpen is succeeding the current Rector Magnificus Cisca Wijmenga.

‘Jacquelien Scherpen's appointment gives me great joy,’ says Johan Remkes, chair of the Supervisory Board of the University of Groningen. ‘She is capable of giving attention to teaching and research in a balanced way and of maintaining the important and healthy relationship with the student community. She has already had an impressive career and has more than earned her academic spurs. With her expansive network, she is well equipped to represent the UG in various bodies.’

Jouke de Vries, President of the Board of the University of Groningen, explains why Scherpen came out as the most suitable candidate: ‘She is a leading scientist, and her work is regarded as innovative and groundbreaking both nationally and internationally. She knows our University well, and we know her as a passionate lecturer, mentor, and bridge-builder, with much managerial experience in academia. As the Board of the University, we look forward to collaborating with her to jointly strengthen the quality of teaching and research as well as the UG's leading position.

Jacquelien Scherpen is delighted with her appointment as Rector Magnificus of the UG. ‘I look forward to contributing to the governance of this versatile University as a member of the Board. That versatility means that we have all the ingredients to come to high-quality and integrated scientific solutions to the great societal issues and transitions we are facing. I am inspired by the fact that the UG has a unique profile in the Netherlands, with international acclaim for the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and engineering sciences. In my opinion, this constitutes a solid starting point for groundbreaking multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary developments in teaching and research that contribute to solving societal issues.’

On 1 September, her first day as the new Rector Magnificus, Jacquelien Scherpen will have worked at the UG for exactly 17 years. After finishing her studies in Applied Mathematics at the University of Twente, she worked at Delft University of Technology for almost 13 years. In 2006, she became a professor at the UG's Faculty of Science and Engineering. She continued her career at the UG as director of the ENTEG (ENgineering and TEchnology institute Groningen). She has been working as Captain of Science since March 2020. She also holds several administrative functions at national and international institutions and organizations.