In the footsteps of Aletta Jacobs
Aletta Jacobs was the first woman in the Netherlands to register at a university as a regular student, on 20 April 1871. In 2021, 150 years later, the UG honours her with ‘the Aletta Year’. Part of the celebration is this series of interviews and articles about remarkable and inspiring alumnae of our university.
Journalist Japke-d. Bouma has written seven books - on surviving the office jungle, on work and careers, on jargon that is as baffling as it is hilarious, and on perceptions of women and men in the workplace.
Sacha Prechal, judge at the European Court of Justice
Giny Boer, CEO C&A Europe
Renske Leijten, member of the House of Representatives for the Socialistische Partij (SP)
Karin Kienhuis, elite athlete and regional director Alfa College
Izaline Calister, singer, songwriter, and band leader
Bénédicte Ficq, criminal lawyer
Cisca Wijmenga, Rector magnificus UG
Hinke Osinga, Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Auckland
Angela Maas, Professor of Cardiology for Women at the Radboud UMC
Ymkje Clevering, top athlete, Olympic Medal winner and European champion rowing
Marlies van Wijhe, CEO Koninklijke Van Wijhe Verf B.V.
Vanessa Ackah, journalist and presenter
In recent years, Ana van Es (Groningen, 1985) has been a Middle-East correspondent, stationed in Beirut, for newspaper de Volkskrant. Van Es grew up in Eelde and studied law in Groningen. In 2010, she won the Groninger Press Award for a piece in the Universiteitskrant about a fatal fire in a student house, as well as the Dick Scherpenzeel Encouragement Award for journalistic talent under the age of 26 years. She was nominated for the Dutch Journalist of the Year prize in 2016 and, in 2019, she won the journalistic award De Tegel for reporting from Yemen.
Aletta Jacobs, first female student, first female physician, feminist
Winnifred (Winnie) Sorgdrager (1948, The Hague) started started studying Law at the University of Groningen in 1967. Between 1971 and 1979, Sorgdrager held various positions at the Technische Hogeschool van Twente (now the University of Twente). In 1979, she started working as a public prosecutor at the district court of Almelo. Here, she rose through the ranks to become Advocate General, and in 1991 she was appointed Procurator General. Three years later, in 1994, Sorgdrager swapped Almelo for The Hague. In the summer of that year, she was appointed Minister of Justice in Prime Minister Kok’s first Cabinet (1994–1998). In 1999 Sorgdrager was a member of the Dutch Senate for a few months. From 1999 to 2006, she chaired the Council for Culture, and on 1 January 2006 she was appointed member of the Council of State, where she remained until 1 May 2018.
On 22 June 2018, Sorgdrager was appointed Minister of State. She also holds various other positions, including the chair of Forum Groningen’s Supervisory Board.
Margrite Kalverboer, Children's Ombudsperson and professor