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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Former Vice President for Research at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin takes over from Professor Stephan Dabbert / Ceremony with Minister Olschowski on 23 October 2025
Professor Christoph Schneider takes office as the new President of the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart today, 1 October 2025. The climate geographer was previously full-time Vice President for Research at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. He is the successor to Professor Stephan Dabbert, who died unexpectedly a year ago after more than twelve years in office.
Christoph Schneider addressed the students and employees of the University of Hohenheim with a video welcome on the first day of his eight-year term of office. “I am looking forward to my new role as President of the University of Hohenheim, to getting to know you, and to spending time with you all,” he said. He added that he was impressed by the “incredible commitment that you can feel at all levels – this Hohenheim spirit that I was able to experience myself in preparation for today.”
As the university president, he sees it as his job to “maintain an overview of the University of Hohenheim as a whole and move everyone forward together as a team – in research, teaching, and transfer.” What is special about the University of Hohenheim is its clear profile in teaching and research, its unique infrastructure, and the considerable successes it has achieved – not least in the Excellence Strategy. He said it is important to him “to strengthen this profile, to make it even more visible internationally, and to think beyond the boundaries of subjects and faculties. We can only do this together – as one big Team Hohenheim.”
((LINK to the video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YQRWnHmrxLU
Election with an overwhelming majority
Christoph Schneider was elected to be the next President of the University of Hohenheim on 27 June 2025 with an overwhelming majority in the University Council and Senate. Dr. Katrin Scheffer, who as chancellor is a full-time permanent member of the President’s Office like the president, will continue to be part of the management team. The part-time vice presidents remain in office on an executive basis until the team is newly elected by the Senate on the recommendation of the president.
“The team at the President's Office has done a great job over the past year,” emphasized Schneider. “Due to his serious illness, my predecessor Stephan Dabbert had to step down in September 2024. Shortly afterwards, the university had to mourn the death of its popular president. Since this time, the members of the President’s Office have carried out their own tasks as well as those of the president and have continued to drive the university forward. This deserves our utmost respect.”
Besides the chancellor, he is referring to the Vice President for Research, Early Career Researchers, and Transfer Professor Julia Fritz-Steuber, the Vice President for International Affairs Professor Andreas Pyka, the Vice President for Academic Affairs Professor Sebastian Hess, and the Vice President for Digital Transformation and Sustainability Professor Caroline Ruiner.
As of today, 1 October 2025, this management team will have a new leader in Professor Schneider. The handover ceremony with Minister of Science Petra Olschowski will take place on 23 October. Reporting media are requested to register by sending an email to presse@uni-hohenheim.de.
BACKGROUND: About Prof. Dr. Christoph Schneider
Before taking office at the University of Hohenheim, Professor Christoph Schneider had been full-time Vice President for Research at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) since August 2021. In this function, he was also a member of the Executive Board of the Berlin University Alliance. He has been Professor of Climate Geography at the HU's Institute of Geography since 2015 and was its director for a time.
From 2004 to 2015, Schneider was Professor of Physical Geography and Climatology at RWTH Aachen University, where he also served as Director of the Institute, Spokesperson of the Department, and Dean of Studies. Before that, he held the interim professorship of the Department of Physical Geography at the University of Freiburg.
His other positions include membership on the scientific advisory council of the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (since 2018) and membership of the Review Board for Physical Geography of the German Research Foundation (DFG) (2016-2024). In September 2019, he was one of the founding members of “Scientists for Future.”
Christoph Schneider was born on 27 February 1965 in Blaustein-Herrlingen. After completing his university entrance qualifications in Ulm and civilian service in the Allgäu region, he studied geography and physics at the University of Freiburg from 1986, where he also gained his doctorate in 1998 after spending time in Hamilton (New Zealand) and Basel (Switzerland). He also completed his post-doctoral lecturing qualification at the University of Freiburg in 2004.
His research focuses on the effects of climate change in polar and mountain regions on the cryosphere, in particular on glaciers, permafrost, snow cover, and water resources. His scientific work also includes research into the urban climate and particulate pollution in cities.
Text: Elsner
https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/press-releases To the University of Hohenheim’s press releases
Prof. Dr. Christoph Schneider, President of the University of Hohenheim since 1 October 2025.
Source: Oliver Reuther
Copyright: University of Hohenheim / Oliver Reuther
Prof. Dr. Christoph Schneider, President of the University of Hohenheim since 1 October 2025.
Source: Corinna Schmid
Copyright: University of Hohenheim / Corinna Schmid
Criteria of this press release:
Journalists
interdisciplinary
transregional, national
Organisational matters, Personnel announcements
English
Prof. Dr. Christoph Schneider, President of the University of Hohenheim since 1 October 2025.
Source: Oliver Reuther
Copyright: University of Hohenheim / Oliver Reuther
Prof. Dr. Christoph Schneider, President of the University of Hohenheim since 1 October 2025.
Source: Corinna Schmid
Copyright: University of Hohenheim / Corinna Schmid
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