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!

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

Seidler has been involved intensively in the diversity office since 2024. Your goal is clear: she wants to increase the visibility of diversity at the university. In doing so, she sees diversity as a multi -dimensional challenge that goes beyond gender identity or sexual orientation. Ethnic and social origin, age, physical and psychological skills, religion and educational backgrounds are also important. By planning initiatives such as an annual diversity day, lectures and exhibitions, she wants to create space for dialogue and exchange.

variety and measures

In spring 2020, the EAH Jena set out to evaluate the current state of its diversity measures as part of the diversity audit "Diversity" of the Stifterverband. The process lasted two years and was made by Prof. Dr. Frank Linde accompanied. During this time, six working groups formed that dealt more intensively with the topic of diversity. One of these groups, which is intended to promote the diversity sensitivity in teaching, plans to introduce a module for the winter semester 2023/2024 with the title "Diversity Matters: Culture and Age".

Seidler also plans workshops and further training for teachers and employees on the inclusive language and the discriminatory interaction. The structures created in this way will not only promote exchange among the university members, but also enable regular critical checks of existing structures - such as appeal procedures and job advertisements - to reduce unconscious barriers

on the way to an inclusive university

The importance of diversity in university formation is steadily increasing. The HIS Institute for University Development has examined in various reports how inclusion and diversity are anchored at universities. According to the ZFHE journal, which was published in 2020, diversity management (DIM) is essential to meet different groups and create an environment in which all people feel belonging.

At the EAH Jena, one is aware of this responsibility and actively tackles various initiatives in order to anchor diversity as an important building block for quality in studying, teaching and research. The university also plans to develop holistic diversity concepts through the “Diversity of German University” initiative, which also include local initiatives and strengthen existing networks.

Marion Seidler emphasizes: "Diversity is an enrichment." And it is precisely with this approach her new office. It is available to the university members for questions and concerns. You can contact interested parties directly at marion.seidler@eah-jena.de or further find out more on the website of the diversity officers.