Rector Stefanie Reese honors those celebrating an anniversary: ​​75 years of knowledge for Siegen!

Rector Stefanie Reese honors those celebrating an anniversary: ​​75 years of knowledge for Siegen!

On April 25, 2025, the Rector of the University of Siegen, Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese, in a solemn ceremony, honored the long-standing achievements of three outstanding professors, each of whom has worked in public service for 25 years. The honorees are Prof. Dr. Dagmar Abendroth-Timmer, Prof. Dr. Petra M. Vogel and Prof. Dr. Marc Hassenzahl.

This honor was presented by Prof. Dr. Reese personally presented the certificates and in her speech emphasized the importance of the jubilarians' commitment to the university. This event not only shows the institution's appreciation for its teachers, but also the lasting impact that the anniversaries have in their specialist areas.

Commitment to the university

Prof. Dr. Petra M. Vogel has been teaching German and linguistics at the University of Siegen since 2006 and has been particularly involved in projects such as the Siegerland Language Atlas and the Dialect Atlas of Central West Germany. She has been the spokesperson for the Dialect Atlas since 2016. Her commitment to young academics has been reflected in her role as Vice Rector for Young Academics, Diversity and International Affairs since 2024. She previously held the position of Vice Rector for International and Lifelong Learning from 2019 to 2024 and was Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 2011 to 2015.

Prof. Dr. Dagmar Abendroth-Timmer has been a professor of didactics of French and Spanish languages ​​and culture since 2009. Her versatility is reflected in various functions, including as speaker of the Romansh seminar and managing director of the Competence Center at the University of Siegen (KoSi). She was also a member of the Senate from 2016 to 2019 and has been the Rectorate's representative for educational pathways and diversity since 2019.

Prof. Dr. Marc Hassenzahl, Professor of Ubiquitous Design, Experience and Interaction, works at the Institute for Business Informatics and has been Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Business Informatics and Business Law since 2019. He was previously vice dean for teaching. His research focuses on the design between material things and experiences and is supported by his leadership of the “Experience and Interaction Design” working group.

Change at the top of the university

The anniversary celebration took place under the direction of Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese, who will succeed Prof. Dr. on December 15, 2023. Holger Burckhart took over as rector. Prof. Reese, who was previously dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at RWTH Aachen University, was elected with an overwhelming majority on August 8, 2023. Her appointment was a significant moment for the university as it began a transition period following the end of Prof. Burckhart's regular term on September 30, 2023.

The certificate of appointment was presented by Minister Ina Brandes in Düsseldorf on November 23, 2023. Representatives of the University Council and the Senate were also present at this ceremony, which underlines the relevance and importance of the inauguration.

The University of Siegen is proud of the achievements of its jubilarians. Their many years of experience and commitment have enriched the academic community and promoted the development of their areas of expertise. While the university will continue to grow under the new leadership of Prof. Reese, honoring the contributions of these professors remains an important part of its history.

Further details can be found in the reports from uni-siegen.de and chemie-biologie.uni-siegen.de be found.