Gabriele Jacobs is new Dean of Erasmus University College

Gabriele Jacobs is currently Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Culture at RSM. Jacobs was selected because of her management involvement in international bachelor education within Business Administration. She conveys this commitment with considerable enthusiasm and passion, with a focus on the human dimension. Professor Jacobs is also an excellent researcher who has particular affinity in designing and implementing interdisciplinary research. This knowledge and experience is also important, considering the interdisciplinary nature of a Liberal Arts & Sciences college. Moreover, the appointment committee was impressed with her vision on the further development of the relatively young EUC, in which connections with the city of Rotterdam are also an important focus point.

As well as her appointment as Dean, she will be appointed as Professor within ESSB in the same specialist field. Her research is an very good match for existing research within ESSB, and she already works regularly with ESSB researchers, mainly in the area of safety. This will be a fantastic enhancement to the faculty.

ESSB Dean Victor Bekkers: “I’m delighted with the arrival of Professor Jacobs as Dean of EUC and as new ESSB colleague. The Executive Board and I have every confidence that Ms Jacobs’ qualities and commitment will contribute to further developing and strengthening the EUC, a unique feature being strong links with the city of Rotterdam. Her appointment also emphasises the fact that we consider the EUC to be an important EUR flagship.”

Gabriele Jacobs said about her new position: “I’m really looking forward to taking on the responsibility for the further development of one of EUR’s most special and fantastic divisions, Erasmus University College. I am thrilled by the mission of Erasmus University College: liberating students through intellectual engagement with real-life problems and providing a multidisciplinary hub at the EUR.  There is a large match with the professional values I pursue in my academic career. I am convinced that education is the most powerful tool humanity has for building a better world.”

The Executive Board and ESSB Dean expressed their sincere appreciation for Professor Wim Hafkamp’s work as interim Dean, especially his significant efforts and commitment with respect to the the well-being of employees and students. His fresh approach to EUC’s future was also important.

The profile and selection criteria for the role of Dean were determined in collaboration with the EUC management team. MT and student representatives participated in the selection procedure.

About Gabriele Jacobs
Gabriele Jacobs obtained her Doctorate in 1998 at the University of Münster, Germany, in the context of a multi-disciplinary PhD programme from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). She worked as researcher and assistant professor at the University of Cologne (Economic and Social Psychology department) and at the Business School in Paris (HEC). She has been employed at RSM since 2000 and as Professor since 2017. She has published papers on organisational behaviour and management in a wide range of academic journals as well as in journals with an applied focus.

Gabriele Jacobs is Director of the Centre of Excellence on Public Safety Management which she co-founded in 2014. She has also initiated and coordinated various EU projects and national research projects. She is currently coordinating the Erasmus+ knowledge alliance ‘International Security Management’.

She is Academic Director of the international Business Administration bachelor programme and led the development of an interdisciplinary international executive master programme in security management for the European Union.