“The University of Greifswald is close to my heart – as an academic, colleague and Rector. We have achieved a lot together over the past few years: we have laid the foundation for a modern, forward-looking university. We must now continue on this path – in a spirited and realistic manner, and in dialogue,” says Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel, who recently attained ninth place in the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers’ “Rector of the Year” ranking. The Rector plans to focus on the consolidation of the three research domains: the Baltic Sea region, One Health and Prevention. She also intends to promote future-oriented teaching and ensure that the university is an attractive place to work with a modern staff development concept.
The Pro-Rectorate for Organisation & Resources shall act as an interface between the faculties and the administration, explains Prof. Dr. Peter Michalik. The aim is to make a significant contribution to an efficient and transparent organisation, and to foster collaboration. “Close, trustworthy and respectful communication between the faculties and the administration is essential for achieving this goal,” explains Peter Michalik.
Prof. Dr. Daniel Schiller, Pro-Rector for Research & Transfer, aims to promote research excellence and improve conditions for researchers at early stages of their careers. He says: “Furthermore, I am very keen to enhance the University’s commitment to the Vorpommern region and our federal state and develop effective formats and structures to achieve this.”
How good teaching can help students to develop their skills and prepare them for their later profession is of central importance to Pro-Rector for Teaching and Teacher Training, Prof. Dr. Anette Sosna. Due to the excellent student-teaching staff ratio at the University of Greifswald – even in national comparison – she considers Greifswald to be particularly well suited for providing good teaching conditions. A further objective for this year and 2026 will be the realisation of measures related to the legislation reforms in teacher-training degree courses: “If the reform is passed in the coming months, we will have made a big step in the right direction,” says Pro-Rector Sosna.
Affordable housing, improved study conditions and more support offers for students – as Student Pro-Rector, Lukas Voigt is committed to sustainable improvements. “In my second term of office, I would like to concentrate on strengthening the study entry and graduation phases at our university,” explains the student during our interview.
The terms of office of the previous Pro-Rectors, Prof. Dr Annelie Ramsbrock, Pro-Rector for Staff Development, Organisation and Diversity, Prof. Dr. Ralf Schneider, Pro-Rector for Research, Digitisation and Transfer, and Dorthe G. A. Hartmann, Pro-Rector for Studies, Teaching and Teacher Training, Internationalisation, and Statutory Matters ended on 31 March 2025. “I would like to say a big thank you to my colleagues for their tireless commitment to the University of Greifswald,” says Rector Katharina Riedel. “In these last years, we have worked together to overcome challenges and strengthen the University as a location for research excellence, innovative teaching and cosmopolitan and international collaboration. I am delighted that they will continue to enrich our university as excellent researchers, lecturers, and internationally recognised colleagues.”
Contact at the University of Greifswald
Dr. Elisabeth Böker
University Communications
Domstraße 11, Entrance 1, 17489 Greifswald
Tel: +49 3834 420 1150
pressestelle@uni-greifswald.de