2022_Portret_Karen Celis_DWHJN_VU

Karen Celis, academic coordinator People

Karen Celis is a research professor at the Department of Political Science of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and co-chair of the RHEA Centre of Expertise on Gender, Diversity, Intersectionality. She conducts theoretical and empirical research (qualitative and comparative) on the political representation of groups (women, ethnic minorities, class, LGBT and age groups) and intersectionality. In her recent research she focuses on the quality of political representation from the perspective of disadvantaged groups. Besides academic coordinator People, she is also a member of the VUB Equality Team.

"VUB promotes diversity and rejects inequality. We strive for the equality of every student and employee - without erasing differences. There is room at VUB for uniqueness, of every individual and every group."
2022_Portret_Karen Celis_DWHJN_VU
Karen Celis
Academic coordinator People
2022_Portret_Valery Ann Jacobs_DWHJN_VUB

Valéry Ann Jacobs, academic coordinator Prosperity

Apart from being academic coordinator Prosperity, Professor of Engineering Sciences Valéry Ann Jacobs is also academic coordinator Well-being of the VUB. She also leads the Taskforce Interpersonal Relationships, which aims to make and keep the VUB a safe and inclusive environment for all members of its community.

"Changing and improving the world doesn’t have to be done on a large scale. Smaller projects, like those of the VUB community, can also have a significant impact. They’re small deeds with big consequences."
2022_Portret_Valery Ann Jacobs_DWHJN_VUB
Valéry Ann Jacobs
Academic coordinator Prosperity 
2022_Waldo Galle_Academisch coordinator_Duurzaamheid_VUB

Waldo Galle, academic coordinator Planet

Visiting professor Waldo Galle has always felt that the young generation - which includes himself - has a duty to stop waste. This conviction of his has only been strengthened during his training as an engineer-architect and as a researcher of sustainability transitions. It made him realise that it is perfectly possible to stop designing buildings as disposable products. His commitment to sustainability is therefore based more on knowledge and research. But that knowledge has led to a personal conviction. "We all win by a more sustainable world, and we know what the consequences are if we do not act." Besides academic coordinator Planet, Waldo Galle is also academic coordinator of the sustainability policy of the VUB.

"Sustainable development has been a core value of our university for 10 years. VUB wants to set an example, but also to be a catalyst for socially and ecologically responsible improvements. Because although the challenges are tough, VUB people know how they can and should tackle them."
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Waldo Galle
Academic coordinator Planet
2022_Portret_Alexander Matterlaer_DWHJN_VUB

Alexander Mattelaer, academic coordinator Peace

Alexander is Vice-Dean for Research and Associate Professor of International Security at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG-VUB). At the VUB, he teaches the courses 'International Security and Strategic Studies', 'Modern Diplomacy', and 'Political Structures and Processes of the European Union'. He was also for three years a visiting professor at the College of Europe in Bruges, where he taught about European defence cooperation and NATO. Needless to say, with such a CV, he is the perfect person to take care of the P of Peace.

"It is often said that peace is not a destination but a winding path. It’s a quest that requires constant orientation and dialogue. And let that be just what we do within the Peace projects, and within VUB too.”
2022_Portret_Alexander Matterlaer_DWHJN_VUB
Alexander Mattelaer
Academic coordinator Peace
2022_Portret_Vincent Ginis_VUB

Vincent Ginis, academic coordinator Partnership

Vincent Ginis is a research professor at the Faculty of Engineering and has received several prestigious international awards for his scientific work. He is also an editor for important journals such as Nature Photonics, Physical Review Letters, Nature Communications and New Journal of Physics. Due to the nature of his work and achievements, he is in constant contact with individuals and institutions from home and abroad and is an ideal academic coordinator Partnership.

"Through the Partnership projects, students have the opportunity to contribute to an academic utopia."
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Vincent Ginis
Academic coordinator Partnership

Discover the projects of all our Ps

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