Leoniek Wijngaards-de Meij appointed as Dean of the faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Leoniek Wijngaards-de Meij appointed as Dean of the faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

As of 1 November 2023, Prof. dr. Leoniek Wijngaards-de Meij will be the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Wijngaards-de Meij is Professor of Data Use for Innovation in Higher Education. She has served as Vice Dean of the faculty since 2019.

"We are very happy with this appointment. Leoniek's leadership style encourages individuals and teams to thrive, we have faith that she will help strengthen the scientific and societal impact of the faculty even more", said Executive Board President Professor Anton Pijpers. "She is an active listener, and open, and decisive, qualities that are crucial to further build a culture that encourages and rewards openness and collaboration within and beyond the university. Over the past months as acting dean, Leoniek has demonstrated that the job is right up her alley."

Career

Leoniek Wijngaards-de Meij has had a thriving career at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences of Utrecht University, where she studied Psychology and later in 2007, obtained her PhD. She was Director of Education of the faculty's department of Methodology and Statistics between 2015 and 2019. Since 2019, she serves as Professor of Data Use for Innovation in Higher Education, and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. She is a member of several national and international academic collaborations on Higher Education Research, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in academia. She is Principal Fellow at the Centre for Academic Teaching and co-chair of the Open Science-track Open Education at Utrecht University.

As a Dean, I want to ensure that an open attitude and open mind become integral parts of our institution.

The value of social and behavioural sciences

"I'm very proud of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Thanks to the tireless efforts of numerous colleagues, both our research and our education are of high quality and are at the heart of our society. Our research and teaching shows that social and behavioural sciences are crucial in addressing the diverse challenges we face as a society, which gives us the opportunity, but also the responsibility, to bolster our societal impact," said Wijngaards-de Meij.

"By embracing Open Science, Utrecht University has taken a significant and necessary step towards future-proof academia. As a Dean, I want to ensure that an open attitude and open mind become integral parts of our institution, through enhanced collaboration with social partners, a genuine appreciation for diverse contributions, and a strong focus on good leadership and teamwork. Moving forward, I will continue to work on a safe and inclusive study and working environment, essential for fostering a stimulating environment for both our students and staff."