Rutger Engels appointed new rector magnificus

Rutger Engels has been appointed the new rector magnificus by the Supervisory Board. He will succeed the current rector Huib Pols on 15 June.

Rutger Engels (1968) is currently chairman of the Board of Directors of the Trimbos Institute, an institute that conducts research into mental health and the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs. In addition, he is faculty professor of Developmental psychopathology of prevention and intervention at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Utrecht University.

Engels conducts research into the development and prevention of substance use and internalising problems among young people. In 2011, he received the Huibregtsen Prize for his research into the early stages of addiction in adolescents.

Smoking and drinking behaviour

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Engels studied Social and Organisational Psychology at the University of Groningen and graduated in 1998 from the University of Maastricht with a doctoral thesis on the social dynamics of smoking and drinking behaviour among adolescents. At Radboud University Nijmegen, he was appointed Professor of Orthopedagogics in 2001 and he was vice dean for research and director of the Behavioural Science Institute.

“I am privileged to become Rector Magnificus of this wonderful university”, says Engels in the university’s press release about his appointment. “Much has been accomplished in recent years and I am delighted to be able to continue building on these good foundations. I look forward to working together with my colleagues in the Executive Board, the Deans and the university community to further strengthen research and education in Rotterdam.”

Engels has been appointed for a period of four years. He starts on 1 May and the rectorate transfer is on 15 June. At the same time as his appointment as rector, he becomes professor at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB).