Joke Fleer appointed as new Dean of the University College Groningen

The Board of the University of Groningen has appointed Prof. Joke Fleer as the new Dean of the University College Groningen for a period of two years, for 0.6 fte. As of 1 March 2024, Prof. Fleer will succeed Prof. Hanny Elzinga, who stepped down as Dean on 1 December 2023, after almost four years in the role.

Joke Fleer is adjunct professor in health psychology within the UMCG talent track, focussing on stress management and personal development in (PhD) students. Additionally, Fleer is the co-founder of SCOPE, the UMCG centre of expertise for personal development. As head of SCOPE, the professor is committed to help students acquire the skills to deal with the increasingly complex challenges that individuals in today’s society face.

At the University of Groningen, Fleer is part of several committees, including the UG Recognition and Rewards committee, where she engages in defining and shaping the pathways for teaching careers. Until recently, she was also board member of Aletta Education (part of Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health), in which knowledge institutes, societal partners, governments and citizens work together in the context of public health education. As of 1 March, Fleer will become member of the steering group of the Aletta School of Public Health, as well as part of the Advisory Board of the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development.

Joke Fleer is looking forward to the tasks and challenges that she will be facing as Dean: “There is, of course, an approaching accreditation and the relocation of the faculty into a new building. Beyond that, I am excited to work closely with UCG students and staff, as well as engaging with external parties, in order to further innovate the interdisciplinary and challenged-based education that form an essential aspect of UCG’s mission.” The Faculty Board of UCG is pleased to have found a new Dean: “Her expertise in the field of personal development and education, her strong ambitions and her interdisciplinary view give us great confidence that UCG can continue its good path with Joke Fleer as the dean.”