The new Board is now complete: at a joint meeting on Wednesday 29 July, the Senate and the Supervisory Board elected Dr Wiltrud Christine Radau as the new Chancellor of Ulm University in the first round of voting by an overwhelming majority. The 56-year-old lawyer currently heads the ‘Academic and Legal Affairs’ division at the University of Bonn. One of her key objectives is to position the university’s administration as an enabler of excellent research and teaching.
On Wednesday morning, Dr Wiltrud Christine Radau introduced herself to the eligible voters and the university community in the multimedia room of the N27 research building, outlining her ideas and goals for Ulm University. The lawyer aims to safeguard research excellence, expand the academic ecosystem at Oberer Eselsberg, and drive forward digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence within the administration. In her new role as Chancellor, the 56-year-old sees herself primarily as a “strategic enabler”: with a reliable and service-oriented administration, sustainable finances, modern infrastructure and future-oriented organisational development, she aims to create the right conditions for outstanding research and teaching as well as knowledge transfer.
“The administration must actively support academia in a solution-oriented manner,” says the Rhinelander. She believes that understanding and respect for the other side are crucial to the University’s success. “In my role as Chancellor, I act as a balancing mediator between both parties. I am convinced that there is scope which we can boldly exploit. We all shape the framework conditions for research, teaching and student life together.” She also believes that a positive culture of learning from mistakes is essential for the organisation’s refinement. Of particular importance to her is a culture of trust, characterised by transparency, reliability and predictability. Through effective organisation and modern infrastructure, the Chancellor-designate also aims to further improve study conditions and enhance the appeal of Ulm University for students – for example, by expanding digital services, providing modern learning spaces, creating an attractive campus, offering student support programmes and promoting mental health.
“In Wiltrud Christine Radau, Ulm University is gaining a Chancellor who sees administration as a driving force for scientific research and teaching and who attaches great importance to mutual understanding,” says University President Professor Michael Weber. “I am convinced that, together with the Board, she will lead Ulm University towards a strong future with vision and a spirit of innovation.”
Weber’s designated successor, Professor Michael Kühl, also congratulated the lawyer: “Dr Radau brings everything we need in the coming years to drive Ulm University forward together: a clear commitment to embedding research excellence within the University’s structure, positioning the administration as a strategic partner to scientific research, and fostering a culture of trust. I am very much looking forward to working with her.”
Dr Radau succeeds Dieter Kaufmann, who retired at the end of June after 21 years as Chancellor of Ulm University. The Chancellor, who heads the administration and is legally accountable for the budget, is a full-time member of the Board. With her election, the new Board of Ulm University is now complete: Back in May of this year, Professor Michael Kühl was elected as the successor to University President Professor Michael Weber, who is also due to retire at the end of September. In mid-July, the Senate elected the new Vice Presidents, who, like the President-elect, will take up their posts on 1 October. Until Wiltrud Christine Radau takes up her post, Heidi Krolopp, Head of the Legal, Organisation and Marketing division, will manage the University’s affairs as Deputy Chancellor.
About Dr Wiltrud Christine Radau
Dr Wiltrud Christine Radau (born 1969) studied law at the University of Bochum and obtained her doctorate at the University of Düsseldorf. She initially worked as a scientific assistant at the Chair of Public Law at the University of Wuppertal before becoming a partner at a law firm in Wuppertal. From 2006 to 2024, she worked as a solicitor and legal adviser at the German University Association, specialising in higher education law, civil servant law, medicine law and employment law. She was also managing director of the Lower Saxony Regional Association within the German University Association from 2014 to 2024. In mid-2024, she became Head of the ‘Academic and Legal Affairs’ division at the University of Bonn.
Further information, text and media contact:
Christine Liebhardt, Head of Office for Press and Public Relations, email: christine.liebhardt(at)uni-ulm.de, tel. (0731) 50 22121