Farewell in Board of Governors: After six years in office, Head of Administration Andrea Linke (centre) was bid farewell by the Chairman of the Board of Governors Dirk Schallock and HFU President Dr. Alexandra Bormann.
Change in executive board at Furtwangen University
A significant change in the university management is imminent at Furtwangen University (HFU): After six years at the helm of the administration, Chancellor Andrea Linke is stepping down from her position.
HFU President Dr. Alexandra Bormann praised the Head of Administration's work at the last joint board of executive meeting, “Andrea Linke is an exceptional strategist who has driven the development of HFU forward with passion and foresight.” On behalf of the entire executive team, she expressed her gratitude for the cooperation characterized by trust and great openness. “As Head of Administration Andrea Linke always had her eye on long-term development and the vision for the future,” said Bormann. “With her hands-on approach and her humor, she made many things possible in an uncomplicated way. We will miss her professionally, but also personally.”
Andrea Linke's great commitment, strategic vision, and unmistakably positive attitude were also honoured at her last meeting of the Board of Governors. The chairman of the Board of Governors, Dirk Schallock, thanked the outgoing Head of Administration from the bottom of his heart, “With Andrea Linke, we experienced a collaboration in which creativity and optimism set the tone. She enriched the HFU with her intelligent and hands-on approach and always ensured that we looked ahead together.”
During her tenure as Head of Administration, Andrea Linke steered HFU safely through numerous changes and challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic and the cyberattack on the university. She provided decisive impetus by, among other things, pushing ahead with the digitialisation of university processes, establishing HFU as a pioneer in the field of sustainability and climate protection, and initiating funding projects to attract early career scientists. Occupational health management was also particularly close to Linke's heart – in the last year of her term alone, a campus garden and a new calisthenics park were opened on the Furtwangen campus, which she had initiated.
Andrea Linke will remain connected to Furtwangen University from her new position as Head of Administration of the University of Applied Sciences in Nürtingen-Geislingen. With her usual energy, she announced, “I already have a few ideas.” She will also continue to work with HFU in her role as chair of the Head of Administration Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences in Baden-Württemberg.
Andreas Friedrich from Freiburg, who previously worked at the University of Freiburg, will succeed her as Head of Administration of HFU. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to his predecessor for the openness with which she had provided him with insights into his new area of responsibility over the past few weeks. Andreas Friedrich will take over the office of Head of Administration for a six-year term starting in December.
