Dr. Claudia Major: New Mercator Professor honored in Duisburg!

Dr. Claudia Major: New Mercator Professor honored in Duisburg!

October 7, 2025 is an important day for political science and especially for security research in Germany. Dr. Claudia Major was honored with the prestigious Mercator Professorship at the University of Duisburg-Essen. This represents not only a personal award for Major, but also an important step in the recognition of her expertise in the field of international security and defense policy. The University of Duisburg-Essen reports that Dr. Major is currently Senior Vice President for Transatlantic Security Initiatives at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Dr. Major is an experienced political and social scientist. She studied political science in Berlin and Paris and received her doctorate from the University of Birmingham in 2009. With over two decades of experience, including as head of the security policy research group at the Science and Politics Foundation, she brings impressive expertise to her new role. Wikipedia lists that her research interests include NATO, transatlantic relations and defense policy in Europe.

Public lecture and registration

As part of her professorship, Dr. Major will give a public lecture at the Duisburg campus on November 19, 2025 at 6 p.m. The title of this lecture is: “Security policy turning point(s): Challenges and options for action for Germany and Europe.” Anyone interested can register now for the lecture to benefit from Major's extensive knowledge and research results.

In addition to her commitments to the German Marshall Fund, Dr. Major advised numerous institutions, including the federal government, the Bundestag and NATO committees. Her political influence and expertise are recognized by several awards, including the French Order of Merit and the Estonian Order of the National Emblem.

The Mercator Professorship

The Mercator Professorship, which was established in 1997, aims to preserve the scientific legacy of the cartographer Gerhard Mercator. This professorship is filled with personalities from various areas who have made significant contributions to culture, politics, business and science. In the past, the list of holders included, among others, federal presidents such as Joachim Gauck and Richard von Weizsäcker as well as prominent personalities such as the filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta and the journalist Ulrich Wickert. The Mercator Professorship website offers further information about the previous sponsors and their influence on society.

Claudia Major brings a breath of fresh air to the Mercator Professorship with her wealth of knowledge and experience. Her appointment is not only a personal success, but also an asset for the entire scientific community that deals with the challenges of global security policy.