New Head of Administration elected

The University Assembly of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena elected Dr Thoralf Held as Kanzler of the University of Jena on 10 May 2022 by secret ballot. He is expected to take up his new position in Jena on 1 September 2022, subject to appointment by the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, Science and Digital Society. A native of Thuringia, he succeeds Dr Klaus Bartholmé, who retired in 2021.

"We have made a good choice from a large number of interesting applications," says Chairman of the University Supervisory Board Prof. Dr Wolfgang Marquardt, who chaired the commission to appoint a chancellor. "With Thoralf Held, we have found a very experienced administrative and financial expert who will strengthen the Executive Board competently and in a goal-oriented manner in all upcoming challenges."

Dr Thoralf Held is currently Head of Administration of the Philipps-Universität Marburg and was previously in the same position at Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences in Jena. Prof. Dr Walter Rosenthal, President of the University of Jena, is convinced that the 54-year-old physicist with a doctorate will be able to profitably contribute his experience from managing several very different universities to the Executive Board of the University of Jena. "With Thoralf Held, we get both: a fresh view from outside and an expert on the Thuringian higher education landscape."

The Kanzler is a member of the Executive Board. He heads the university administration and is responsible for the budget. His term of office is eight years, re-election is possible.

The position was publicly advertised. In accordance with the State Higher Education Act, the election was held by the University Assembly, which is formed by the Senate and the University Supervisory Board. In preparation for the election, a search committee drew up an election proposal, which required the agreement of the president. Held introduced himself to the university public immediately before the election. Until he takes office, the duties of the Head of Administration will be carried out by the Deputy Kanzler, Dr Stefan Danz.

Personal details

Thoralf Held studied mathematics, physics and astronomy at Erfurt University of Education and Friedrich Schiller University Jena and received his doctorate in 1996 in the field of solid-state physics. Parallel to his doctorate, the native of Thuringia completed a practical training period as a teacher for secondary schools. After holding positions as headmaster of the Euro Schools in Erfurt, as Head of Administration and managing director of the International School of Management gGmbH in Dortmund, he took over the management of the study and training divisions of the nationwide Euro Schools organisation in 2010. From 2013 onwards, he was Kanzler of Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences in Jena until he moved to Philipps-Universität Marburg in May 2021.