Marion Seidler: New diversity officer brings a breath of fresh air to Jena!

Marion Seidler: New diversity officer brings a breath of fresh air to Jena!

Marion Seidler took up her new position as diversity officer at Ernst Abbe University Jena (EAH Jena) on July 1, 2025. The coordinator of the professor program, appointed in 2020, brings a breath of fresh air to the strategy for promoting diversity at the university. In the next three years she will succeed Bettina Staudenmeyer, who has been in office since November 2024 and was in charge until the end of June 2025.

Seidler has been intensively involved in the Diversity Office since 2024. Her goal is clear: she wants to increase the visibility of diversity at the university. She sees diversity as a multidimensional challenge that goes beyond gender identity or sexual orientation. Ethnic and social background, age, physical and psychological abilities, religion and educational background are just as important. By planning initiatives such as an annual diversity day, lectures and exhibitions, she wants to create space for dialogue and exchange.

Diversity and measures

In spring 2020, EAH Jena set out to evaluate the current status of its diversity measures as part of the Stifterverband’s “Shaping Diversity” diversity audit. The process lasted two years and was led by Prof. Dr. Frank Linde accompanied. During this time, six working groups were formed that dealt more intensively with the topic of diversity. One of these groups, which aims to promote diversity sensitivity in teaching, is planning to introduce a module for the winter semester 2023/2024 entitled “Diversity matters: culture and age”.

Seidler is also planning workshops and training for teachers and employees on inclusive language and non-discriminatory interactions. The structures created in this way will not only promote exchange among university members, but also enable regular critical reviews of existing structures - such as appointment procedures and job advertisements - in order to break down unconscious barriers.

On the way to an inclusive university

The importance of diversity in higher education is constantly increasing. The HIS Institute for University Development has examined in various reports how inclusion and diversity are anchored at universities. According to the magazine for university development ZFHE, which was published in 2020, diversity management (DIM) is essential to do justice to different groups and to create an environment in which everyone feels like they belong.

At EAH Jena we are aware of this responsibility and are actively tackling various initiatives to anchor diversity as an important building block for quality in studies, teaching and research. The university also plans to develop holistic diversity concepts through the “Diversity at German Universities” initiative, which also include local initiatives and strengthen existing networks.

Marion Seidler emphasizes: “Diversity is an enrichment.” And it is precisely with this approach that she approaches her new position. She is available to university members for questions and concerns. Anyone interested can contact them directly at marion.seidler@eah-jena.de or find out more on the website of the diversity officer.