Dr. Mandy Boehnke replaces the Vice President International and Diversity, Professor Eva Maria Feichtner, who has held the position since 2017. Mandy Boehnke would like to combine and focus the existing central and decentralized cooperations. “In the past ten years, there has been a lot of movement in the area of internationalization, which is reflected in the increase in English-language degree courses, a growing number of international students, and cross-boarder research cooperations.”

Commitment to the Central Academic Structure

For the first time, Dr. Mandy Boehnke, a representative of the so-called central academic structure, will be represented in the University Executive Board as Vice President. The area of academic qualification also lies within her remit. Mandy Boehnke would like to advocate for the systematic promotion of the central academic structure and strengthen the development opportunities of this heterogeneous group. The central academic structure “is one of the most important pillars of the university. It provides essential teaching, research, and transfer services and, at over 50 percent, represents the largest employee group at the University of Bremen.”

In the area of diversity, Mandy Boehnke announced plans to build on past efforts and continue to remove barriers. To this end, it would make sense to evaluate the activities of recent years and current needs, to examine priorities, to strengthen synergies, and to link the topic more sustainably with the areas of research and transfer as well as academia and teaching.

Member of the University of Bremen since 2004

Dr. Mandy Boehnke studied sociology at TU Chemnitz and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and has been a member of the University of Bremen since 2004. After a one-year stay abroad at the National University of Singapore, she worked as a research assistant in the field of theory and empirics of social structure. After completing her doctorate in sociology of the family, the social scientist joined the Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS). There, as Director of Studies, she was responsible for the implementation of the structured doctoral program and, as a member of the board, was involved in its further development and allocation of funds. At the University of Bremen, Mandy Boehnke has been involved in various committees, such as the Academic Senate, the Faculty Council and the Research Committee. Dr. Mandy Boehnke has been the Dean of Studies in Faculty 8: Social Sciences since 2021.

The New Team in the University Executive Board

Jutta Günther, President of the University of Bremen, has started her term in office with a new team of vice presidents: Professor Michal Kucera is Vice President for Research and Transfer. Dr. Mandy Boehnke is the new Vice President for International Affairs, Academic Qualification, and Diversity. Professor Maren Petersen is appointed as Vice President for Teaching and Studies. The new University Executive Board team comes from various faculties. It stands for dialog and participation and will strategically develop the University of Bremen together with Director of Finance and Administration Frauke Meyer.

Further Information

More about the new rectorate and its members can be found on the website of the University of Bremen. Click here for the press release on the new rectorate.