NEWS The Swedish Government has appointed Chris Heister, county governor of Stockholm County, as new chairperson of the Umeå University Board. She will take her post on 1 May.
“I feel incredibly happy and honoured to be given this assignment. Umeå University has an incredible breadth and has great support in the region as well as it has achieved success on an international scale. As chairperson I hope to contribute to strengthening the University’s regional, national and international position with regards to education, research and outreach with trade and industry,” says Chris Heister.
Since 2012, Chris Heister is county governor in Stockholm County, and previously she has held the same position in Västerbotten County. Over several years, she has served as member of the Swedish Riksdag for the Moderate Party, and she has for instance acted as expert adviser to the then Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt. In the past, Chris Heister has also been a member of the Umeå University Board, albeit this is the first time she will act as chairperson. Chris Heister replaces Lennart Evrell as chairperson.
“Umeå and Västerbotten hold a special place in my heart, and I’m truly pleased to re-establish connections both with the University and the town – it feels like coming home again,” she says.
The Swedish Government has also appointed the other external members of the Board for the upcoming period. New members – apart from Chris Heister – are Professor Mohammad Fazlhashemi, Professor Sophia Hober, and County Director Lars Lustig. Vice-Chancellor Hans Adolfsson is pleased about the appointments.
“I’m happy to hear that the Government has finally reached a decision on a new University Board, and I’m looking forward to valuable collaborations with both new and senior members. Thanks to her posts as county governor in both Västerbotten and Stockholm, Chris Heister has a wide circle of contacts that I’m confident will further promote the University,” he says.
Also Mohammad Fazlhashemi and Lars Lustig have a history at Umeå University. Mohammad Fazlhashemi was formerly professor at the Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, and Lars Lustig was University Director between 1998 and 2013.
Hans Adolfsson, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå UniversityPhone: +46 90-786 53 30
Email: rektor@umu.se
The Communications Office, the County Administrative Board of StockholmPhone: +46 10-223 10 00
Email: stockholm@lansstyrelsen.se
Press photo Chris Heister Photo: Mikael Sjöberg
Text: Camilla Bergvall
Translation: Anna Lawrence
Editor: Anna Lawrence