Prof. Debbie Jaarsma appointed new President of the Board of the University of Groningen as of 1 March

The Supervisory Board of the University of Groningen (UG) has appointed Prof. A.D.C. (Debbie) Jaarsma (1973) as President of the Board of the University. With her appointment, the UG welcomes an experienced and energetic leader who knows how to bring people together and turn ambitions into action. Jaarsma, who previously held a professorship at the UG, will thus be returning to Groningen. She will succeed Prof. Jouke de Vries on 1 March 2027. Her appointment is for a four-year term and has received a positive recommendation from the University’s representative bodies.

Jaarsma brings a combination of academic expertise, leadership experience, and a strong commitment to the university community. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated how collaboration between different disciplines, people, and organizations can drive innovation. Her focus is not only on the societal impact of academic research, but also on the people who make teaching and research possible every day.

Johan Remkes, Chair of the Supervisory Board: ‘With Debbie Jaarsma, the UG is gaining a President who combines academic expertise and leadership experience with a clear ambition to make a positive impact on society. Her commitment to collaboration and to the role of academic research in society aligns perfectly with the direction our university is taking. The Supervisory Board looks forward to welcoming her with great confidence.’

Building the future of the UG together

The UG faces the challenge of connecting its broad academic expertise even more closely with the issues of today and tomorrow. With its strategic plan, Making Impact Together, the University has set out an ambitious course. This strategy places collaboration across disciplinary and organizational boundaries at its heart, while further strengthening the University's role as a knowledge institution for the Northern Netherlands and beyond. These ambitions will need to be realized at a time when the University is also facing substantial budget cuts.

Jaarsma aims to contribute to achieving these ambitions through her experience, energy, and collaborative approach to leadership. She sees a strong university community as the foundation for success: an environment in which staff and students feel heard and involved, ideas are given room to flourish, and people take shared responsibility for the University's future.

Jaarsma: ‘The breadth of expertise at the UG and its strong ties to the Northern Netherlands particularly appeal to me. From engineering and medicine to the social sciences and humanities, this combination offers tremendous opportunities to address societal challenges. By bringing this knowledge together, we can not only innovate but also understand what is needed to implement improvements successfully. I see it as a wonderful challenge to work with staff, students, and societal partners to continue building a strong, open, and inclusive university community that brings people together. A university where people can develop their talents and where we work together to achieve the ambitions set out in the strategic plan, “Making Impact Together”.’

Career

Jaarsma studied Veterinary Medicine in Ghent and Utrecht and obtained her PhD from Utrecht University in 2008, with research focusing on veterinary education. She subsequently became a Professor at the University of Amsterdam. In 2014, she joined the UG and the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) as Professor of Research and Innovation in Medical Education, where she led the LEARN research group.

Since August 2021, she has been Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University. In this role, she has gained extensive experience in leading a complex academic organization, strengthening collaboration, and translating strategic ambitions into tangible results.

Her return to Groningen marks the beginning of a new chapter at a university she already knows well. Rector Magnificus Jacquelien Scherpen and Vice President of the Board of the University Hans Biemans ‘enthusiastically look forward to working with her and to the energy, experience, and fresh perspectives she will bring.’