Susanna Pettersson appointed to the Aalto University Board
25.02.2014
Susanna Pettersson (Ph.D., born 1966), Director of the Finnish Institute in London, has been appointed a member of the Aalto University Board as of 1 March 2014.
Aalto University’s Academic Affairs Committee has elected Susanna Pettersson to replace Professor Anna Valtonen, who will become Dean of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture as of 1 March.
“The Nomination Committee carried out an extensive review of experts in the arts, the applied arts, and architecture, and identified Susanna Pettersson as someone with extensive experience not only of the university world and managing arts organisations, but also cultural policy,” says Sirkka Hämäläinen, the Chairman of the Nomination Committee. “Her good communication and collaborative skills, together with her enthusiasm, promise to ensure that she will take an active part in leading and developing Aalto University.”
Susanna Pettersson has had an international career in a variety of positions in the arts, the visual arts, architecture, and design; and she is currently Director of the Finnish Institute in London and a member of the Board of Directors of Frame Visual Art Finland.
“I am excited to get the opportunity to begin working on the Board and become part of Aalto University’s rich community of researchers, teachers, and students,” says Susanna Pettersson. “Making the university’s voice heard in society is important for Aalto and I hope that I will be able to put my own expertise and contacts to work as widely as possible here. I also believe that I will learn a lot as well.
“Aalto University has an extremely good reputation, and is known and respected around the world. Its strength lies in the dynamism of its synergies. Aalto’s combination of economics, technology, and art and design is an exciting one, and one that interests people. These synergies provide a solid platform for Aalto University’s future success in what has become a very competitive international university world. High teaching standards, great ideas, and talented students are very much the alpha and omega of things here.”
Prior to her present position, Susanna Pettersson worked in a number of arts management positions, including serving as Director of the Alvar Aalto Foundation / Museum and Director of Development at the Finnish National Gallery. Her work as a member of a number of committees coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Culture has given her an excellent overview of Finnish society and cultural policy. Pettersson is also Adjunct Professor of Museology at the University of Jyväskylä and a visiting lecturer at the renowned Reinwardt Academy in Amsterdam and elsewhere.
As of 1 March 2014, the Aalto University Board will comprise Matti Alahuhta, D.Sc. (Tech), Professor Anne Brunila, Professor Bengt Holmström, Professor Saku Mantere, Professor Liqiu Meng, Professor Colin Whitehouse, and Susanna Pettersson (Ph.D.).
Pettersson_Susanna_CV.pdf (pdf)
Further information:
Jari Jokinen
Director, Policy and Foresight
Tel. +358 (0)400 914 839
jari.jokinen [at] aalto [dot] fi
Aalto University