Professor Ólöf Garðarsdóttir the new Dean of the School of Humanities

Ólöf Garðarsdóttir, professor of history at the School of Education's Faculty of Subject Teacher Education at the University of Iceland is the new dean of the School of Humanities. She was one of five applicants for the post and is the first woman to hold it.

Ólöf completed a B.Ed from the Iceland University of Education 1987, BA in history from the University of Iceland in 1993, and a PhD from the University in Umeå in Sweden 2002. Her research is in the field of demography and social history. She has written articles and books on migration, fertility, and history of public health, with emphasis of the health of children, in addition to the history of children and education.

Ólöf headed the department of demography and census at Statistics Iceland from 2002-2008, was associate professor in social history at the University of Iceland School of Education from 2008-2010 and then professor from 2010. Ólöf has written numerous articles and reports in domestic and international publications; given talks at scientific conferences; participated in diverse research projects and global research networks, as well as organizing international scientific conferences.

She has held various administrative jobs within and outside of the University of Iceland; including the Division of Science and Innovation evaluation committee from 2017, she has served as rector's representative in selection committees at the schools of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education from 2016, and chaired the review panel of the University of Iceland Research Fund at the School of Education from 2017. Furthermore, she was on the Graduate School's board from 2014-2017, the task force for the organisation of a new Faculty of Subject Teacher Education at the School of Education 2017, and chair of the doctoral studies committee at the School of Education 2011-2017. She was on a prudential committee on population projection at Statistics Iceland from 2010, has been on the board for the amateur association of the history of medicine from 2005, and she has been on a committee on causes of death for the statistical office of the European Union; EUROSTAT.

"I am looking forward to a new and challenging project as dean of the School of Humanities. The School of Humanities is a dynamic and exciting field of work where numerous dynamic research scientists work in the field of the humanities as well as a group of experienced staff in administration. The broad spectrum in research and teaching is one of the hallmarks of the School of Humanities, and it is leading in multifarious research and teaching in the Icelandic language, culture, literature, languages, religious studies, archaeology, history, and philosophy. I want to thank the rector of the University of Iceland for the trust he bestows on me by offering me the post of dean at the School of Humanities," says Ólöf.

"I welcome Ólöf Garðarsdóttir, wholeheartedly as the new dean of the University of Iceland's School of Humanities from 1 January, 2021," says Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector. The Dean of the School of Humanities has the role to administer the school by proxy of the rector, leads academic affairs and research, works towards a dynamic and united team unity, and is a spokesperson for humanities in society at large. "Ólöf Garðarsdóttir has an ambitious vision for the future of the School of Humanities, she has extensive experience of scientific work and a vast knowledge of university activities. I wish her all the best in leading this important University school."

Ólöf succeeds Guðmundur Hálfdánarsson as dean of the School of Humanities.