Rianne Letschert

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Rianne Letschert (2015) RianneLetschert2015.jpg
Rianne Letschert (2015)

Rianne Monique Letschert (born 13 September 1976) is a Dutch law scholar. Since November 2021 she has been president of Maastricht University. Previously Letschert was professor of victimology and international law at Tilburg University between March 2011 and September 2016. [1] From September 2016 until February 2022 she was rector of Maastricht University.

Contents

Career

Letschert was born in Doetinchem on 13 September 1976. [2] [3] She moved at an early age to Stiphout in the municipality of Helmond. In Helmond she attended high school. [2] [4] [5] Letschert studied law at Tilburg University, the University of Amsterdam and the University of Montpellier. She obtained her PhD at Tilburg University with a thesis titled The impact of minority rights mechanisms (2005), dealing with competing international organisations making policy on national minorities. [6] [7]

In 2011 Letschert was appointed as professor to the new chair of victimology and international law at Tilburg University. [6] Several years later Letschert contemplated leaving academia. [7] In May 2015 she was awarded an 800,000 Euro grant by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research and decided to continue. [7] [8] Her research focused on the impact of international tribunals on societies and individuals that have been confronted with human rights violations and international crimes. [9] Apart from her position as professor she served as director of the International Victimology Institute Tilburg (INTERVICT). [10] In 2016 Letschert was asked to become dean of the Law faculty of Tilburg University. However, on 1 September 2016 she was appointed as rector of Maastricht University. [11] [12]

Letschert joined the De Jonge Akademie (Young Academy) of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2012. [13] In April 2015 she became chairperson. [7] Due to her appointment as rector magnificus of Maastricht University she was succeeded as chairperson by Rens Vliegenthart in June 2016. [14] Letschert was a Schermer Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the period between February and June 2016. [15] In November 2021 she became president of the board of Maastricht University, succeeding Martin Paul. [16] In February 2022 Letschert laid down her role as rector. [17] As president of the board Letschert was a vocal opponent of the proposed budget cuts by the Schoof cabinet to international students. [18] In September 2025 she was elected to another term as president of the board. [18]

Political activity

After the 2018 Dutch municipal elections Letschert was formateur for the municipal executive of Maastricht. [19] In December 2025, on proposal of Democrats 66, she was selected to become informateur in the 2025–2026 Dutch cabinet formation. She succeeded Sybrand van Haersma Buma. [20]

References

  1. ↑ Ellen de Bruin (22 April 2016). "Rianne Letschert (39) rector van Universiteit Maastricht". NRC. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 Joke Knoop. ""Hoe hoger je komt, hoe minder tegenspraak"" (PDF). De Jonge Akademie. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Rianne Letschert". De Jonge Akademie. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Niek Willems (2 June 2015). "Rianne Letschert: werkte in een bouwmarkt, maar was allesbehalve handig" (in Dutch). Universonline. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Rianne Letschert uit Helmond voorzitter Jonge Akademie" (in Dutch). Eindhovens Dagblad. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Rianne Letschert benoemd tot hoogleraar Victimologie en internationaal recht" (in Dutch). Tilburg University. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Ellen de Bruin (9 January 2016). "'Zonder beurs was ik gestopt met de wetenschap'". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Vidi Awards 2014". Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Mensen om in de gaten te houden" (in Dutch). Financieel Dagblad. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "Staff & Research Fellows INTERVICT". Tilburg University. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  11. ↑ Jan Tromp (24 May 2016). "Goedlachse powervrouw als rector-magnificus van Universteit Maastricht". de Volkskrant. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "Prof. dr. Rianne Letschert Rector Magnificus Maastricht University". Maastricht University. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  13. ↑ "Ten new top researchers join The Young Academy". De Jonge Akademie. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "Rens Vliegenthart nieuwe voorzitter De Jonge Akademie". Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  15. ↑ "Letschert, Rianne". Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  16. ↑ Anne Grefkens (10 December 2025). "D66 schuift Rianne Letschert naar voren als nieuwe informateur" (in Dutch). Universonline. Archived from the original on 28 December 2025.
  17. ↑ "Prof. dr. Rianne Letschert" (in Dutch). Maastricht University. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025.
  18. 1 2 "De collegevoorzitter van Universiteit Maastricht wordt informateur" (in Dutch). voxweb.nl. 10 December 2025. Archived from the original on 28 December 2025.
  19. ↑ Peer, Wouter; den Hartog, Tobias (9 December 2025). "Universiteitsbestuurder Rianne Letschert (49) volgt Sybrand Buma op als informateur" (in Dutch). Algemeen Dagblad. Archived from the original on 16 December 2025.
  20. ↑ Bouwman, Boris; Bouwman (2025-12-09). "D66 wil Rianne Letschert, bestuursvoorzitter Universiteit Maastricht, als nieuwe informateur". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-12-09.
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