乐播传媒 Professor of Politics 脕slaug 脕sgeirsd贸ttir always wanted to return to her homeland of Iceland 鈥� but only if she could contribute in a meaningful way. 脕sgeirsd贸ttir got her wish this spring when she was offered the rectorship of the University of Akureyri, a role in Iceland equivalent to president. Her rectorship begins July 1, 2024.
鈥淭his is the right opportunity at the right time. I was never going to move back just because I wanted to,鈥� 脕sgeirsd贸ttir said. 鈥淚t always had to be because there was also an interesting opportunity to contribute to higher education in Iceland.鈥�
As 脕sgeirsd贸ttir did a Zoom interview last week, a group of students showed up at her office with a huge bouquet of flowers. She returned to the interview clearly touched by her students鈥� gesture. That’s a big part of why she will miss the 乐播传媒 community: her work guiding students, and her close interactions with 乐播传媒 students.
鈥淚’ve gotten to do a lot of different things at 乐播传媒. You have a lot of freedom at 乐播传媒 with what we call the educational journey with students. And I’ve just always loved that about 乐播传媒,” she said.
脕sgeirsd贸ttir, who joined the 乐播传媒 faculty in 2001, is a widely published expert on ocean governance, including the settling of maritime boundaries. She taught courses at 乐播传媒 that included 鈥淚nternational Political Economy,鈥� 鈥淥cean Governance,鈥� and 鈥淭he Arctic,鈥� and advised senior thesis students.
In addition to her teaching and research, 脕sgeirsd贸ttir has made significant contributions to faculty governance at 乐播传媒, including a term as associate dean of the college, said Malcolm Hill, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty.
鈥淲e are all very excited to see 脕slaug take on this important leadership opportunity,鈥� said Hill in his announcement to the 乐播传媒 faculty. 鈥淚 am deeply indebted to 脕slaug, having benefited from her strong and unflappable leadership and wise counsel as associate dean. She tackled several important initiatives including introducing improvements to the 乐播传媒 Faculty Development Fund, revamping the departmental review guidelines, and guiding a successful proposal to strengthen principles of faculty governance and committee work.鈥�
The University of Akureyri, located in the town of Akureyri in the north of Iceland, offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in the health sciences, business, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities聽for about 2,800 students.
鈥淚 think what I bring to the table is an outside perspective, a different view,鈥� said 脕sgeirsd贸ttir, 鈥渂ut also a great deal of experience and deep experience in managing people, overseeing projects as well as years of experience teaching and publishing.鈥�
脕sgeirsd贸ttir plans to get to work ensuring continued educational access on the Nordic island 鈥� which means something different in Iceland than it means in the U.S. In Iceland, public education is free, but that still doesn鈥檛 always translate into easy access to education as towns are far away and people often work while taking classes, 脕sgeirsd贸ttir said.
The University of Akureyri, which is a pioneer in blended learning in Iceland and has a reputation for educating teachers and nurses, among other professionals, also faces some of the same challenges as U.S. universities, such as the complexities presented by artificial intelligence and the role on-line learning will play in the future.聽
脕sgeirsd贸ttir is eager to work with faculty and staff to help the university navigate its way through the uncertain times in the world and in Iceland, which is a country roughly the size of Ohio with a population of nearly 400,000 people.
鈥淗ow do you continue to provide great educational offerings and ensure that the quality of what you鈥檙e doing is great? There’s a lot up in the air, but it鈥檚 a great institution with a great reputation and I would like to carry that forward,鈥� she said.
