University College Roosevelt, UCR Board of Trustees and the Executive Board of Utrecht University are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Gerda Andringa will be the new Dean of University College Roosevelt. She will be appointed effective April 1, 2025.

Following the recently initiated reorganization, Prof. Andringa will lead UCR into more stable waters by effectively implementing its renewed academic direction and keeping UCR financially sound. She will focus on strengthening UCR’s position as an academic hub in Zeeland by fostering strategic collaborations with regional and international partners. With an updated curriculum that better addresses societal and economic needs and the needs of a new generation of students, UCR’s attractiveness and competitiveness will be enhanced. At the same time, it will oversee efficient operations and cost control to ensure UCR’s sustainable growth.

Andringa has been with UCR for many years. As Professor of Community Engaged Learning in Health and Care and Director of Education, she plays a crucial role in the development and innovation of the education program. Thanks to her in-depth knowledge of the academic landscape and her strategic insight, she has built strong collaborations with local and regional partners. For example, she works closely with HZ University of Applied Sciences, the Academic Workshop on Eldercare Zeeland, the UU CEL program council and the Delta Climate Center to promote joint education and research initiatives and further embed UCR within the Zeeland region.

In confirming her appointment, Prof. Dr. Andringa said, “UCR is a unique Liberal Arts & Sciences college where faculty and students form a close learning community. I look forward to working with them to shape a renewed curriculum. We will maintain our diverse, intensive and small-scale program, but with sharper alignment with political, regional and social developments and with much attention to the personal and professional formation of our students. It is a privilege to lead this.”

“With her impressive track record in the field of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and her empathy, she is uniquely qualified to help new and current UCR students benefit from the attractive curriculum that has been established. On the UU side, we have full confidence in her and in UCR’s revamped curriculum.”

Dr. Yvonne Kops, chair of the UCR Board of Trustees, said, “In UCR’s vision for the future, civic engagement and connection to the regional environment, including Community Engaged Learning, is a core part of the Liberal Arts & Sciences program. We are confident that Professor Andringa, with her knowledge and connecting qualities will be able to provide inspiring leadership for the development of the college in this direction, permanently working to improve the quality and attractiveness of the program and the broader learning environment for students.”

Etienne de Jager, Managing Director of UCR commented as follows: “We are delighted that Gerda will fill the position of Dean. She has been closely involved in the development of UCR’s educational program for many years and has a strong relationship with the students. I am confident that she can lead the UCR community with dedication and vision in this new phase of UCR.”

Harry van der Maas, deputy for education of the Province of Zeeland/chairman of Campus Zeeland: ‘I congratulate UCR on the appointment of Prof. Andringa as its new Dean. With her arrival, UCR is also entering a new phase. Recently, a new curriculum has been developed, which is attractive to new students from inside and outside Zeeland. This new profile is necessary to make UCR future-proof. I am very confident that Gerda, together with the other staff members and students, will set to work energetically on this. In Zeeland we cannot do without well-educated young talent. Together we will continue to invest in good education, in which academic education and research are indispensable for our region and economy. I wish UCR and the new Dean success.

Prof. Dr. Andringa is Director of Education and Professor of Community Engaged Learning in Health and Care at UCR. After receiving her PhD in 2000, she worked as a visiting scientist at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, USA, and as an associate professor in the Department of Medical Pharmacology at the VU in Amsterdam. In both positions, she studied novel pharmacotherapeutic treatments for neurodegenerative disorders.

Her current research activities focus on psychosocial and technological innovations for and with the elderly, especially for people with dementia. She also enjoys contributing to innovations in higher (healthcare and medical) education. This aligns with her passion for education, which she developed early in her career.

The Dean is appointed by the UCR Board of Trustees and the Executive Board of Utrecht University for a period of 4 years, with the possibility of renewal for the same period.