Mette Thunø to step down as dean of the Faculty of Arts

After a period of dialogue between Rector Nielsen and Dean Thunø, it has been agreed that Dean Thunø will resign her position at the Faculty of Arts at Aarhus University on 1 July 2014 in order to return to research and teaching activities within her field. The dean is leaving her post as a consequence of differences of opinion regarding the management challenges at AU and Arts.

“Since November 2010, Mette Thunø has made an extraordinarily dedicated leadership contribution to the faculty and the university as whole, not least in the capacity of dean of education. She has helped make the university more visible, both nationally and internationally. But we have different perspectives on the management challenges at university and faculty level. This is why we’ve concluded a mutual agreement regarding Dean Thunø’s resignation,” states Rector Nielsen.

Dean Thunø will assume a position as associate professor of Chinese at the Department of Culture and Society at Aarhus University on 1 November.

“It’s been an incredibly exciting process to work with the employees to create the new main academic area, Arts. But the rector and I see things differently, and ending our collaboration is for the best. I’ll now return to research and teaching at AU,” says Dean Thunø.

 The position of Dean of the Faculty of Arts will now be advertised. Associate Professor Johnny Laursen has been selected to serve as interim dean of Arts until the new dean assumes his or her duties.

Sincerely

Dean Mette Thunø and Rector Brian Bech Nielsen