Farewell event for Mark Rutgers on a unique day in the university’s history
image: Stefanie Uit den Boogaard
With the red flag flying proudly on the Academy Building (Leiden University was on strike for the first time in its history!), the farewell event for former dean Mark Rutgers was held in the Telders Auditorium. After eight years, he has passed the baton to the interim dean, Henk te Velde.
Saskia Goedhard, Executive Director of the Faculty of Humanities, welcomed the guests on this special day. A panel discussion then began, on the theme of “The challenges facing an administrator in an academic context”, chaired by Joanne van der Leun, former dean of Leiden Law School - and in that capacity a colleague of Mark Rutgers for many years. The panel members Casper van den Berg (President of Universities of the Netherlands), Naomi Ellemers (University Professor, Utrecht University), Freek Peters (Professor of Contextual Leadership, Tilburg University) and Ineke Sluiter (University Professor of Greek Language and Literature, Leiden University) reminisced on working with Mark, and on the challenges they shared.
Driving on the highway or surfing the waves
Sluiter suggested an excellent metaphor: a three-lane highway, with the dean as a driver in the centre lane, merging smoothly in and out of the traffic. She also pointed out that in this case the adage “Don’t talk to the driver” did not apply: the faculty actually needs to engage in conversation with its dean. Freek Peters then offered another metaphor, describing administrators as wave surfers, who must effectively move in harmony with the forces at play within and outside the faculty.
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Executive director Saskia Goedhard opened the afternoon -
Hester Bijl, Mark Rutgers and Mark's wife Sandra Rijken -
The panel: from left to right, panel leader Joanne van der Leun, Freek Peters, Ineke Sluiter, Casper van den Berg, Naomi Ellemers -
Henk te Velde, Mark's successor, joined in the discussion -
Former rectors Carel Stolker and Douwe Breimer (left) were also present -
Heart-to-heart -
Mark Rutgers during his speech -
Hester Bijl thanked Mark Rutgers for his many years of hard work for the faculty -
Executive Board member Erwin Muller and former academic director Sybille Lammes also addressed Mark Rutgers -
Secretary Jonique van Hooff presented Mark with his parting gift, on behalf of the Faculty Board -
Mark Rutgers with History student Kjeld Botter -
Colleagues waiting in line to shake hands with Mark
There is life after deanship
A lively discussion then arose with the room, for example on the question of how to ensure that enough people move up to leadership positions within the university. It can even happen that people receive sympathy from their colleagues after accepting a position as an administrator. Other questions included whether rotating leadership is desirable or not, and what people think of the idea of elected administrators. Van der Leun observed regretfully that there were many more propositions she would have liked to submit to the room and the panel, but concluded with the proposition, especially for Mark: There is life after deanship.
Six observations from a former dean
After the break, it was time for Mark’s farewell speech; by now, the Telders Auditorium was really full. In his speech, titled That’s close enough, Jim. It worked (a reference to the film Apollo 13, about the aborted moon landing - ed.), Mark reflected on university leadership on the basis of six observations. These included observations on “the academic leader as cool-headed hero”, “the professor as anti-hero” and “deaning with Machiavelli”. He spoke about many themes relating to leadership; from Sun Tzu to Tom Puss (Dutch cartoon character – ed.), he also drew upon his well-stocked bookshelves with many profound sayings.
Connecting role
He was then addressed by the Rector Magnificus, Hester Bijl. She thanked Mark for his many years of hard work for the faculty, emphasising particularly his connecting role and his success in building bridges between scholarship and society. She also praised his genuine interest in and attention to the people around him.
After short speeches by the former academic director Sybille Lammes, former dean Erwin Muller, vice-dean Jeroen Touwen and Faculty Council chair Jan Sleutels, which included references to Mark’s many exceptional hobbies, the time had come for the drinks reception. The Academy Building’s reception room was now filled with colleagues from all sections of the university. This most convivial farewell reception gave Mark the opportunity to shake hands with many more of the guests.
Support Scholars for Scholars
As his leaving present, Mark chose to set up a crowdfunding appeal in support of scholars living under oppression. Donations are still very cordially welcome.
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