Pro-Rectors and Managing Director of UI’s Central Administration
The Professors Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir and Steinunn Gestsdóttir have been appointed Pro-Rectors at the University of Iceland. Guðmundur Ragnar Jónsson Professor was also appointed as Managing Director of the University’s central administration from 1 July 2016.
At the University Council‘s meeting 19 May last a change in the structure of central administration was approved. This is pursuant to the evaluation performed by Ómar H. Kristmundsson, Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, and Ásta Möller, Administrative Scientist and Project Manager at the Office of Rector, and discussions on these matters at the University Forum 10 May.
It was decided to appoint two Pro-Rectors from the University’s academic staff, Pro-Rector for Science, and Pro-Rector for Academic Affairs and Development. The positions are part time (with research duties), and Rector will sign a letter of appointment stating their responsibilities and sphere of authority. Professor Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir will be Pro-Rector for Science, and Professor Steinunn Gestsdóttir will be Pro-Rector for Academic Affairs and Development.
It was furthermore decided to employ a Managing Director of the University’s central administration who will lead it in Rector’s capacity; supervising the following administrative divisions: Operations and Resources; Finance; Academic Affairs, Marketing and Public Relations, Human Resources, and Science and Innovation. Rector will sign a letter of appointment for this post. The Managing Director of the University’s central administration will be Guðmundur Ragnar Jónsson, Professor, and Director of finance and operations.
Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Iceland’s Faculty of Social and Human Sciences. She completed undergraduate studies from the University of Iceland in 1984, an MA degree in Sociology from Lund University in Sweden in 1990 and a PhD from the same university in 1995. Guðbjörg Linda has held many important positions within and outside the University of Iceland. She has been on the University Council’s Science committee since 2014, and is currently the chair. She has also served on councils for specialists for several important research funds. Guðbjörg Linda was the first Dean of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences 2008 – 2013 and was part of a group that formed a comprehensive policy for the University of Iceland 20111-2016, and again 2016-2021. She chaired a scientific ethical committee for the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, was part of a University Council workgroup to prepare studies in Public Health Sciences at the University of Iceland, and has been on the committee of the programme at the Faculty of Health Sciences. Furthermore, Guðbjörg Linda has been on various selection committees with in the University.
Steinunn Gestsdóttir is a Professor at the University of Iceland’s Faculty of Psychology. She completed her PhD from the Tufts University, Medford in the United States in 2005, an M.A. degree from Boston University in 2001 and a B.A. degree in Psychology from the University of Iceland in 1996. Steinunn has held many administrative positions, within and outside of the University of Iceland. She was part of group forming a comprehensive policy for the University of Iceland 20111-2016, and was one of the two chairpersons for the strategy’s steering committee for 2016-2021. Steinunn chaired the research committee for the University’s School of Education, was on the University Council’s science committee for several years and a quality evaluation committee for the University of Iceland in 2012. Furthermore, she has been on the Science and Technology Policy Council since 2012, and is currently on the board of Societas Scientariarum Islandica, Icelandic Student Innovation Fund and Iceland’s Research fund.
Guðmundur Ragnar Jónsson has worked at the University of Iceland since 1983, first as a specialist at the University‘s engineering institute, later as an Associate Professor at the department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, finally from 1996 as a full professor at the same department. He was head of the Division of Operations and Technology from 2003 and later the University’s Head of Division of Operations and Resources. Guðmundur has held many major positions within and outside of the University of Iceland, including chairman of the University Council’s finance committee and the Council’s consultation committees for the past several years. He completed is studies in mechanical engineering from the University of Iceland in 1981, an M.A. degree from Danmarks Tekniske Höjskole in 1983 and a PhD in Statistics from Lunds Tekniska Högskola in 1996.
