Senior and Principal Fellows

The Senior Fellow Programme was developed by Utrecht University with the aim of strengthening educational leadership. Those who successfully complete the programme are nominated for a professorial position with a special teaching remit, and will be named Principal Fellow of the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning.

The following Senior Fellows are currently taking part in the programme at the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning:

  • Liesbeth Bijlsma

    Dr. Liesbeth Bijlsma already showed great talent as an informal leader in educational renewal and innovation. With her project 'Scaling-up inquiry-based learning (IBL), she aims to implement IBL in large knowledge-driven curricula to support students in the development of critical thinking skills, which will help then to make evidence-informed (clinical) choices in their later professional roles. The project links well to the strategic goals of Utrecht University and can be useful to other parts of the university, especially to programmes that tie strongly to academic professional roles.

  • Matthieu Brinkhuis

    Dr. Matthieu Brinkhuis is well recognized as an expert in learning analytics and evaluation and has a proven track record in key positions in education at his faculty, such as degree director of the Applied Data Science Master Programme and director of education for Continuing Education within the Graduate School of Natural Science. With his project on Continuing Education (CE) he wants to explore how to create joint programmes with societal partners, moving from CE for professionals, to CE with professionals.

  • Marije Hennus

    Dr. Marije Hennus has a clear vision for enhancing workplace learning within the medical curriculum, aiming to better equip students for the challenges of the future with her plans to optimise workplace-based learning. Beyond her immediate focus on medical education, Marije is actively exploring how these principles can be extended to benefit other fields within the university.

  • Mariëlle Jambroes

    Dr. Mariëlle Jambroes is deeply motivated to educate the next generation of students as future healthcare professionals, preparing them for upcoming challenges in the healthcare sector. Mariëlle aims to achieve this goal by integrating Community Engaged Learning (CEL) into the curricula of health professions education. Through her work in the Faculty of Medicine, she intends to contribute to the University-wide strategy of CEL.

  • Alexei Karas

    Dr. Alexei Karas is Associate Professor of Economics at the University College Roosevelt (UCR). Alexei is highly motivated and passionate about introducing data literacy across the curriculum for students from all fields. Alexei has held several leadership positions, for example as head of department and chair of the curriculum committee at UCR. He is an expert in both Economics and Mathematics and an excellent teacher, as evidenced by the Outstanding Teacher of the Year of the UU award in 2017.

  • Sigrid Merx

    As an Associate Professor and Director of Education Of the School of Media and Culture Studies at Utrecht University, Sigrid has consistently displayed innovative leadership in educational transformation. Her career reflects a commitment to fostering interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration. Sigrid’s proposed Senior Fellow project focuses on training educators in creative methods to enhance collaborative and interdisciplinary learning environments. This initiative aligns seamlessly with the university's strategic goals of promoting personal development and intellectual growth among students.

  • Christianne Smit

    Dr. Christianne Smit has successfully led the implementation of complex educational changes in recent years. Through her active engagement with the university's educational community, she has made valuable contributions, notably in the renewal of the educational model focusing on graduate attributes such as personal leadership, reflection, and adaptive skills. As a Senior Fellow, she is dedicated to fostering a student-centered and transformative learning environment, with a Humanities perspective that emphasizes contextualization and positioning at its core.

  • Sebastiaan Steenman

    Dr. Sebastiaan Steenman already has quite some advanced leadership experience, as a Director of Education, responsible for all Bachelor, Master and Executive masters' programmes of his department and leading several projects on educational innovation, most recently with the implementation of the REBO Skills Academy. His project aims for building a Utrecht University Skills Academy. The Skills Academy aims at developing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary skills beyond the standard set that is intrinsically linked to a particular degree programme. 

  • Patrick Witte

    Dr. Patrick Witte demonstrates a strong passion for education and a deep commitment to student development. He emphasizes creating meaningful learning experiences tailored to the abilities and needs of today's students while fostering their academic and personal growth. Patrick’s proposal for the Senior Fellow programme centres on exploring the delicate balance between transdisciplinary learning and disciplinary grounding. His vision seeks to ensure graduates are well-equipped with both a solid disciplinary foundation and the flexibility to address societal challenges collaboratively.

Principal Fellows

In order to keep Senior Fellows actively involved with the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning (CAT) after the program has ended, they can be appointed as Principal Fellows. This is also open to professors who have been affiliated with the CAT as academic staff. The appointment as Principal Fellow is for a period of three years, with the possibility of renewal. A Principal Fellow actively applies for positions, takes initiatives, or may be approached for a role in committees, SIGs, or educational innovation projects of the CAT or Utrecht University in a broader sense. Examples include the organization of the Education Festival, the USO assessment committee, the Teacher Awards jury, or the CAT SIGs.

The following individuals have been appointed Principal Fellows of the CAT:

  • Harold Bok

    Prof. Harold Bok is Professor of Educational Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine and Vice Dean of Education at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. He focuses on academic research and innovation in the field of veterinary education. His mission is to bridge the gap between educational theory and everyday educational practice within and outside the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University. His research focuses on (assessing) personal and professional development in the clinical workplace. 

  • Niels Bovenschen

    Prof. Niels Bovenschen is Professor of Biomedical Research-based Education at the Faculty of Medical Sciences and Head of Research at the Department of Pathology at UMC Utrecht. Within the faculty, he is an ambassador for Interdisciplinary Education and focuses on creating synergy between education, scientific research, and healthcare. 

  • Vincent Crone

    Dr. Vincent Crone is associate professor of Media Studies and vice dean of education at the Faculty of Humanities at Utrecht University. Since 2001, he has been teaching about the relationship between media, culture, and society. 

  • Gönül Dilaver

    Prof. Dr. Gönül Dilaver is Professor of Inclusive Higher Education and Director of Education in Biomedical Sciences Education at UMC Utrecht.

  • Mariëtte van den Hoven

    Dr. Mariëtte van den Hoven is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Faculty of Humanities and involved with the Research Institute for Philosophy and Religious Studies.

  • Jeroen Janssen

    Prof. Jeroen Janssen is a professor in the Department of Education at the Faculty of Social Sciences, chair of the Department of Education, and scientific director of ICO, the national research school for educational research. His research focuses primarily on learning processes in complex learning environments.

  • Manon Kluijtmans

    Prof. Manon Kluijtmans is dean of University College Utrecht and professor at the University Medical Center Utrecht, where she holds the chair ‘Education to Connect Science and Professional Practice’. She was academic director of CAT from 2017 to 2023. Her research focuses on learning across boundaries, connecting different contexts, and identity development. Specific areas of interest include dual-role professionals such as clinical researchers, clinical teachers, and teacher-researchers.

  • Christel Lutz

    Prof. Dr. Christel Lutz is Professor of Faculty Development in Higher Education and Director of Education at University College Utrecht. Christel's teaching and practice-oriented research focus on motivation and learning, and the intellectual and identity development of both students and teachers. The importance of close-knit learning communities plays a major role in her work.

  • Brianne Mc Gonigle

    Prof. Brianne McGonigle Leyh is Professor of Global Justice Studies in the Department of Law. Her chair emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and brings together practitioners, researchers, and students to address complex global justice issues.

  • Irma Meijerman

    Dr. ir. Irma Meijerman is Associate Professor Pharmaceutical sciences. She has a particular interest in the professional development of teachers in higher education, and educational scholarship. As Principal Fellow (SF) of the Centre for Academic Teaching (CAT) she is involved in projects supporting teachers that want to get engaged in educational scholarship.

  • Karin Rebel

    Prof. Dr. Karin Rebel is Professor of Sustainability Science & Education and Director of Education in Sustainable Development at the Faculty of Geosciences.  In her chair, she connects research and education in the field of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary sustainability issues, with an emphasis on climate.  

  • Frank van Rijnsoever

    Prof. Dr. Frank van Rijnsoever is Professor of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Higher Education for Sustainability at the Faculty of Geosciences. He has a strong ambition to train change agents, who are desperately needed to help solve major societal challenges.

  • Annet van Royen-Kerkhof

    Prof. Dr. Annet van Royen-Kerkhof is Professor of Interdisciplinary Education in Medicine  and works as a pediatric immunologist at the WKZ/UMCU. She is also Vice Rector for Education at Utrecht University. 

  • Veronique Schutjens

    Prof. Dr. Veronique Schutjens is Professor of Experiential Education in Geography at Social Geography and Urban Planning within the Faculty of Geosciences. This chair focuses on research into enhancers and barriers to learning processes in outdoor educational activities, such as internships, international exchanges, fieldwork, excursions, or field research.

  • Maarten van der Smagt

    Prof. Dr. Maarten van der Smagt is Professor of Psychological Literacy in Higher Education at the Faculty of Social Sciences. This chair focuses on scientific approaches to curriculum design and educational innovation, with a view to strengthening the relationship between psychological research, social application, and innovation within higher education. 

  • Bald de Vries

    Prof. mr. dr. Bald de Vries is professor of Interdisciplinary Legal Education at the Department of Law of the Faculty of Law, Economics, and Organization. Since December 2023, he has been Academic Director of the Centre for Academic Teaching and Learning.
     

  • Leoniek Wijngaards

    Prof. Dr. Leoniek Wijngaards-de Meij is professor of Data Use for Innovation in Higher Education and dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. She is chair of the Social Sciences Dean's Council (NL) and a member of the SSH Council.