On 30 October 2025, Dr Annett Schmeck was appointed as the new Chancellor of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences by Ralf Thönnissen, Senior Ministerial Director at the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MKW NRW). Her term of office begins on 1 November 2025.
The new Vice-Chancellor is looking forward to the future: “I’ve already had the chance to meet some of my colleagues and am thrilled by the enthusiasm I’ve encountered. This university is something special. The diverse student body, characterised by a large number of international students, is a distinguishing feature in our region and makes the university unique.” Dr Annett Schmeck was elected as the new Vice-Chancellor of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences by the university’s electoral assembly on 25 June 2025. Her term of office is eight years.
Dr Schmeck most recently served as Executive Director of the Faculty of Philosophy and Educational Science at Ruhr University Bochum. She had held this position since 2019. Prior to that, she worked initially as a research assistant at the University of Duisburg-Essen and subsequently as a project manager at Stiftung Mercator GmbH in Essen. A native of Essen, she studied psychology at Ruhr University Bochum and obtained her PhD at the University of Duisburg-Essen. She is married and has two children.
Also present at the appointment ceremony was Prof. Dr Aloys Krieg, Chair of the University Council at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. On behalf of the University Council, he congratulated Dr Schmeck: “We congratulate Dr Schmeck on her appointment and very much look forward to working with her.”
