In September 2020, the Academic Senate already approved the proposal put forward by the President of Hochschule Geisenheim University, Prof. Dr. Hans Reiner Schultz, to appoint the current Chancellor Marion Waldeck, MBA, for a second term of office. The President's recommendation was preceded by a public advertisement of the position and a selection process that involved a broad-based search committee. "The unanimous vote of the search committee and the approval of the Academic Senate reaffirm my belief that Marion Waldeck is exactly the right person to strengthen our administration – the backbone of every university – so that teaching staff and researches will find the best possible conditions for their work to be recognized on a national and international level," explains University President Schultz. The current and new Chancellor received her new certificate of appointment on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 from Ayse Asar, State Secretary in the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and the Arts (HMWK) in Wiesbaden.
With the appointment of Waldeck, Hochschule Geisenheim University continues to focus on continuity in its university management. In May 2019, the founding President Hans-Reiner Schultz was confirmed for an additional six-year term, and Prof. Dr. Annette Reineke, Professor for Crop Protection in Viticulture and Horticulture, started her second term of office as Vice-President of Research in September. Prof. Dr. Alexander von Birgelen, Vice-President of Academic and Student Affairs and Professor for Plant Use, completes the management team of Hochschule Geisenheim University.
"Our aim is to continue to drive the successful development of our young university that has grown rapidly over the last years and now has more than 1,800 students and more than 500 staff members. In addition to comprehensive construction projects, which will provide the groundwork for excellent research, responsibility and sustainability is of great importance for all areas of our university,” explains Waldeck. One of my priorities and a challenge I am facing is to seize the opportunities provided by digitization for university administration in order to provide adequate support and favorable conditions for teaching and research.”
Before Marion Waldeck became Chancellor at Hochschule Geisenheim University, the 45-year-old had already held various positions in university management. For 13 years, she had worked at Fresenius University on Applied Science Idstein, which co-organizes the B.Sc. and M.Sc. Food Safety program in cooperation with Hochschule Geisenheim University, and at Wissenschaftliche Hochschule Lahr, which is now Allensbach Hochschule, a state-accredited private distance learning university. The Rheingau area, tough, feels very familiar to her because she was born in Wiesbaden and went to Ursulinen Gymnasium ˗ a secondary school in close vicinity to our university.
Given her professional background, the Head of Administration is aware of the characteristics of the “New Type of University”, which goes beyond the traditional binary system of higher education. Therefore, she wants to actively contribute to raising the profile of Hochschule Geisenheim University, and to fostering a culture of appreciation across all areas of university. With tailor-made solutions as part of the staff development concept and follow-up initiatives, Waldeck wants to make all university members fit for the constant changes and challenges in professional life.
