SDU gains a visionary new Rector

After a thorough recruitment process with a strong field of applicants, the Board has unanimously decided to appoint the 48-year-old Dean Jens Ringsmose to head SDU in the years to come. With the election of Jens Ringsmose, the Board has appointed a Rector with a visionary eye for the University’s continued development in the region, solid research, teaching and management experience as well as extensive knowledge of the organisation.

• One of Jens Ringsmose’s great qualities is that thanks to his profound knowledge of the University, he is very much able to combine a visionary eye for the future facing the University. With Jens Ringsmose in the driver’s seat, SDU not only gains a leader and analytical force of nature, but also an experienced leader with a keen eye for the University’s position in our region, says Chairman of the Board Niels Thorborg.

Jens Ringsmose has served as Dean of the Faculty of Business Social Sciences at SDU since 2019, where he has created visible results, including fostering SDU’s collaboration with Media City Odense and, most recently, SDU’s Business School, which opened its doors in September this year. In addition, Jens Ringsmose has been Campus Dean at SDU Slagelse and SDU Esbjerg.

New Rector with SDU in his blood

Jens Ringsmose originally earned a degree in history at the University of Southern Denmark, where he also embarked on his research career, focusing on the area of defence policy. SDU has been a consistent factor throughout Jens Ringsmose’s career, which also includes employment at the Danish Institute for Military Studies and the Royal Danish Defence College. In addition to academic and managerial experience, his career has also resulted in an extensive national and international network, and he is therefore perfectly equipped to head SDU, which since 2019 has worked strategically with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and a clear vision to create value for and with society and work with the global challenges of sustainability.

• SDU is a regionally based university that provides research and education at a high international level. We must continue to be hugely ambitious and uncompromisingly strive for excellence when educating and when creating new knowledge. This has been – and must continue to be – the hallmark of SDU. I look forward to working hard for a fantastic and strong university, which I have always considered to be my academic home, says Jens Ringsmose.

Privately, Jens Ringsmose lives in Odense with his wife and three children. He will take up the position as Rector of SDU on 1 November 2021, replacing Ole Skøtt, who has served as Interim Rector since 1 August 2021 after Rector Henrik Dam took up a position as CEO of the Danish Organization of General Practitioners (PLO).