Wilma Scholte op Reimer appointed President of the Executive Board of HU University of Applied Sciences
The Supervisory Board of HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht has appointed Wilma Scholte op Reimer as President of the Executive Board with effect from 1 September 2023. Wilma succeeds Jan Bogerd, who will leave the HU after the expiration of his second term as president. Wilma has been a member of the Executive Board since 2020.
“She is a connecting director, enthusiastic, substantively expert and professional, thinks in terms of opportunities and builds on the strength of the HU community,” says Guus van Montfort, President of the Supervisory Board. “In addition, this appointment is important for continuity: the policies initiated - such as the ambition plan - can continue to be implemented in full and at pace. Also, with Wilma at the helm, the HU can continue to fulfil its pioneering role.”
Wilma Scholte op Reimer: “I have in recent years had the opportunity to work with the HU community with great pleasure and growing appreciation, whereby the substantive expertise of the many colleagues inspires and enthuses me. I would like to further shape the connection between education, research and professional practice. I also want to continue propagating this in this new challenge, both within the HU community and in professional practice, in the city and region of Utrecht and in the national networks. And that story starts with our students, lecturers, researchers and employees. For that, I will gladly remain committed.”
Annette Wind on behalf of the University Council (HSR): “The HSR is very pleased with this appointment: Wilma has a warm personality and is genuinely interested in the ups and downs of students and employees and is open to the ideas put forward by the participation council. She has made a great contribution in the past period to the positioning of applied research at the HU, the strengthening of research capacity and the connection with education. She is at the centre of society and will have a positive impact on expanding the HU's role in working on social issues. The council looks forward to continuing a fruitful collaboration.”
Wilma Scholte op Reimer has been a member of the Executive Board of University of Applied Sciences Utrecht since 1 February 2020. She holds the portfolios research policy, valorisation, strategic marketing and communication and alumni policy. In doing so, she takes the lead in realising HU's major ambitions in practice-based research. This has now taken shape in the realisation of the HU Vision on Education and Research, which gives direction to education, research, service provision, policy within the HU and cooperation with each other and professional practice.
Wilma previously worked at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA), as Faculty of Exercise Sports and Nutrition counsellor and Faculty of Health counsellor. In this role, Wilma Scholte op Reimer was integrally responsible for the functioning of two HvA faculties with a total of 6,500 students in seven bachelor’s degree programmes, a professional master's degree programme and a European scientific master's degree programme. In addition to her work as a board member at the HU, she is still affiliated with the UvA as Endowed Professor of Complex Care.
Wilma's appointment also means that the Supervisory Board will start recruiting a new member for the Executive Board. It is expected that a new member will be appointed in the coming months.
Photography: Marleen Stoker