The 22 members of the Academic Senate (AS) elected the Bremen researcher with 14 votes. Professor Verena Blechinger-Talcott from Freie Universität Berlin (FU) also stood for election and received 8 votes. The decision was not easy for the senate, which is comprised of persons from all status groups of the University of Bremen. "The AS deemed both researchers to be to be very well suited for the office of president," said the chairman of the Academic Senate, President Professor Bernd Scholz-Reiter. "Both bring a lot of experience and skills to the table.  I congratulate Professor Jutta Günther and thank Professor Verena Blechinger-Talcott for her commitment."

Well Connected in Science and Politics

Jutta Günther is no stranger to the University of Bremen: For just under two years, the 54-year-old has been the Vice President Research. In this role, she oversees the university's research and transfer strategy activities and continues to develop the support offers for early-career researchers. At the same time, she has led the field of Innovation and Structural Economics as a professor of economics at the University of Bremen since 2014. She heads up an international team of around 25 within the Faculty of Business Studies & Economics. Additionally, as a member of the Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS), she is active in supervising doctoral students at the interface of social science and humanities disciplines.

Jutta Günther is well connected in academia and politics and serves on various scientific advisory boards and committees on a federal and state level, including as an advisor and reviewer for the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), as a member of the scientific advisory board of the Leibniz Science Campus Halle, as chair of the scientific advisory board of Wissenschaftsstatistik GmbH of the Stifterverband, and as a member of the German-Korean Consultative Body Committee of the Federal Government Commissioner for the New Länder (BMWi). From 2020 to 2021, Jutta Günther was a member and scientific expert within the Climate Protection Strategies for the State of Bremen enquete commission.

The scholar comes from North Rhine-Westphalia and entered the scientific sector via a second educational path. After several years of professional work, including in international development cooperation and most recently as a technical assistant at Freie Universität Berlin (FU), she completed social science studies in Oldenburg, Osnabrück, and Albany/New York. After completing her PhD at the University of Osnabrück, she worked for twelve years at the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research in Halle (IWH), first as a postdoctoral researcher and then as head of department and institute. During this time, she gained extensive experience in strategic science management and science policy work. At the same time, she habilitated at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and was appointed at the University of Bremen in 2014.

"I stand for Dialogue, Participation, Transparency, and Trusting Cooperation"

"I am very pleased and honored to be able to take on responsibility for this university as its future president. I thank the members of the Academic Senate for their trust," said Jutta Günther after the election. She added that the University of Bremen is a special and inspiring place of science and education. "I want to work to ensure that we face the challenges of our time together and courageously in research, teaching, and transfer." As the future president, she said that she stands for dialog, participation, transparency, and for trusting cooperation with all university members, partners, and politicians.

Congratulations from the Senator

"I am delighted that Professor Jutta Günther, a highly networked researcher and accomplished science manager, has been elected president", sais the Senator for Science and Ports, DrClaudia Schilling. "This will be the first time that a woman has been at the helm of the University of Bremen. In her current role as Vice President of the University of Bremen, Professor Jutta Günther has already made her mark; she is no stranger to me and my science department. I am sure that the good development of the university will continue under her leadership and I look forward to our further cooperation."

Further Information:

www.uni-bremen.de/en/guenther/home

www.uni-bremen.de/en/university/organization/university-executive-board/prof-dr-jutta-guenther

www.uni-bremen.de/as

Contact:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Scholz-Reiter
President
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60011
Email: rektorprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de

Meike Mossig
Deputy Head of University Communication and Marketing
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60168
Email: mmossigprotect me ?!vw.uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de