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On June 24, 2025, the Senate elected psychologist Brigitte Latzko, Dean of the Faculty of Education since 2020, as Vice-Rector for Talent Development: Studies and Teaching. The committee thus followed the election proposal of Rector Eva Inés Obergfell.
The new election had become necessary as Roger Gläser had resigned from his position as Vice-Rector with immediate effect on June 5, 2025.
"I am very grateful to the members of the Senate for their support. We can all look forward to an energetic, likeable, strategically thinking and acting Vice-Rector," wrote Rector Obergfell in a circular email to university members. "The interdisciplinary skills that Ms. Latzko possesses in particular, together with her academic expertise, form an excellent basis for her work in university management." Whether it’s skills diagnostics during studies or the digitalization of teaching, the future Vice-Rector has already made a considerable contribution to strengthening student success. The Rectorate team is very much looking forward to working with the new Vice-Rector, who starts tomorrow.
i am grateful for the election and look forward to the new office," says Brigitte Latzko. "As Vice-Rector, I can combine my many years of experience in academic self-administration and my academic expertise as a university professor in an excellent way." When the Rector asked her whether she could imagine taking on the role, she was initially "surprised and amazed". "I have respect for the position and the tasks, but at the same time I feel it is a great honor to be able to take on this position," explains the 58-year-old.
She wants to deal quickly and intensively with everything that comes up. the topics and tasks are defined by the university development plan, the target agreement with the Free State as well as educational policy and social developments. Together with my team, the first thing I have to do is prioritize the tasks." In the long term, she wants to work towards identifying the right course of study for every first-year student under the heading "Equal Path". "Together with the science faculties, for example, we could continue to work on increasing the proportion of young women in particular."
Brigitte Latzko was first employed at our university from 2001 to 2007 and returned to the Faculty of Education as a private lecturer in 2011. She has been a university professor of psychology in schools and teaching since 2016, and in the same year she also took on the role of Vice Dean of the Faculty. she was elected Dean in 2020. According to Rector Obergfell, she made a significant contribution to the recruitment of Alexander von Humboldt Professor Tina Malti, played a leading role in developing the Faculty’s concept for the future and initiated the development of a graduate program.
"Of course, my aim is for all faculties to see me as ’their Vice-Rector’. It should be perceived that my responsibility for studies and teaching relates to all degree programs and the associated issues," says Brigitte Latzko. She therefore also wants to get to know the specific topics of the individual faculties. "That means I will cycle through the faculties and also hear what they want to tackle in each case."
Professor Brigitte Latzko becomes Vice-Rector for Talent Development: Study and Teaching
Today (24 June 2025), the Senate elected psychologist Professor Brigitte Latzko, who has been Dean of the Faculty of Education since 2020, as Vice-Rector for Talent Development: Study and Teaching. In doing so, the body followed the nomination put forward by Rector Professor Eva Inés Obergfell.
A new election became necessary after Professor Roger Gläser stepped down from his position as Vice-Rector with immediate effect on June 5.
"I am very grateful to the members of the Senate for their support. We can all look forward to a committed, likeable and strategically minded Vice-Rector," wrote Rector Obergfell in a circular email to members of the University community. "With exceptional interdisciplinary skills and strong academic credentials, Professor Latzko is excellently equipped for her position on the University’s leadership team." From course-related skills assessments to the digital transformation of teaching, Rector Obergfell pointed out that the incoming Vice-Rector had already made significant contributions to strengthening student success, and that the Rectorate team was very much looking forward to working with the new Vice-Rector, whose term begins tomorrow.
"I would like to thank the Senate for electing me and I look forward to taking on this new role," says Professor Brigitte Latzko, 58. "The office of Vice-Rector is the perfect opportunity to unite my extensive experience in academic self-government with my scholarly expertise as a university professor." When first asked by the Rector whether she could imagine taking on the role, she was initially "surprised and astonished". She adds: "I have great respect for the office and the responsibilities it entails, but I also consider it a great honor to be entrusted with this role."
She intends to engage quickly and intensively with the matters at hand. "The key issues and tasks will be defined by the University Development Plan, the target agreement with the Free State, and wider developments in education policy and society. I will need to start by prioritizing the tasks with my team." In the long term, she would like to pursue the goal of identifying the right degree program for every new student, under the guiding principle of "equal path". "For example, we could work with the natural science faculties to further increase the proportion of young women in particular."
Brigitte Latzko was first employed at Leipzig from 2001 to 2007. In 2011, she returned as a Privatdozentin to our Faculty of Education. Since 2016, she has been Professor of Psychology in School and Education, and that same year she also took on the role of Vice Dean of the Faculty. She was elected Dean in 2020. According to Rector Obergfell, she played a key role in recruiting Alexander von Humboldt Professor Tina Malti, spearheaded the development of the Faculty’s strategic vision, and launched the creation of a graduate program.
" Of course, my aim is for all faculties to see me as their Vice-Rector. It should be clear that my responsibility for study and teaching covers all degree programs and the related issues," says Brigitte Latzko. With this in mind, she aims to familiarize herself with the specific concerns of each faculty. "That means I’ll be cycling around to visit the faculties and listening to what each of them wants to tackle."
