Professor Severine Vermeire has made history by becoming the first ever female rector of Flanders’ oldest university KU Leuven. Professor Vermeire, a gastroenterology specialist, received 51.9% of the vote.
Her opponent, vice-rector Tine Baelmans was 5 percentage points behind her. Vice-rector Baelmans polled 984 votes, while professor Vermeire was good for 1,088 votes. Speaking shortly after she learned the result, Professor Vermeire told journalists that. "With a difference of 5 percentage points in the number of votes, I have received a clear mandate from KU Leuven's staff”.
Professor Vermeire will be the first female rector in the university's 600-year history. She is also the first rector from the biomedical sciences group since Mark Waer, who headed the university from 2009 to 2013.
"This means a lot to me. "It is important that the university has a place in society, and today's society is colourful and diverse. If your board mainly consists of white men, you cannot convey that. You need to have enough women and people from other cultural backgrounds on the board", rector-elect Vermeire said.
Severine Vermeire's mandate begins 1 August. She will have 45 days to select her team of vice-rectors. Current rector Luc Sels was not eligible for re-election as he has already served the maximum two four-year terms.