Today, the government approved the appointment of Maria Knutson Wedel as SLU's new vice-chancellor.
"I wish Maria Knutson Wedel the best of luck and look forward to fruitful cooperation in the future," says Jennie Nilsson, Minister for Rural Affairs and the minister responsible for the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Maria will take up her new post on 15 June and she will hit the ground running by attending the SLU Board's strategy planning days 18–19 June.
"I'm genuinely pleased to have this opportunity to work for SLU. It's an exciting university with considerable breadth, covering many of the key issues that are so important for the future", explains Maria Knutson Wedel, vice-chancellor-elect.
Maria is passionate about sustainable development, ecologically, financially and socially, and explains that she will take on the role of vice-chancellor with great curiosity and openness.
"I will practice 'management by train' and travel a lot in order to acquaint myself with the many sides of SLU, to meet staff and to listen and understand," says Maria.
Maria Knutson Wedel joins SLU from the Chalmers University of Technology, where she has held the post of Vice President of Education and Lifelong Learning. She graduated as a Master of Engineering in Engineering Physics from Chalmers in 1988 and received her doctoral degree in physics in 1996. She has been an professor of engineering materials since 2009.
The inauguration will take place in Ultuna on 6 September. Registration for the ceremony and subsequent reception will open on the staff web from 13 June, and all SLU employees and students are welcome to attend.