30 June 2026

Geerlinge Pessers has been appointed as the new director of the Student and Educational Affairs (SEA) expertise centre and will take up the role on 15 September. She succeeds Jeroen ’t Hart, who is retiring. Geerlinge is currently the manager of Academic Services at Delft University of Technology.

Geerlinge studied contemporary history at Leiden University and completed a master’s degree in international relations at Sussex University. She has subsequently taken numerous public policy and management courses.

Geerlinge has spent most of her working life at Delft University of Technology. Her roles there include policy adviser on education and quality assurance, management assistant at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, and director of education and student affairs at the Faculty of 3ME (now Mechanical Engineering). She has been the manager of Academic Services at Education & Student Affairs since 2022.

Responding on behalf of the Executive Board, Rector Magnificus Sarah de Rijcke says she is delighted with her appointment. ‘We’re pleased that Geerlinge will be joining us in Leiden. With her extensive experience in higher education, she has a strong understanding of the sector. During the recruitment process, we also came to know her as a person with an engaged, connective and results-driven leadership style. We are confident that Geerlinge will be a valuable asset to SEA and to the university as a whole.’

For her part, Geerlinge Pessers is looking forward to her new role. ‘I can’t wait to start this fantastic new job. I’m looking forward to applying the knowledge and experience I’ve gained in Delft to SEA and Leiden University. And Leiden University is a wonderful organisation with a great reputation. The fact that it’s my alma mater adds a certain something to this new role.’