As Rector (President) I lead our faculty, a unique institution for higher (university-level) theological education and research in Leuven (Belgium). I started in this responsibility in September 2019. The executive administration I lead is ultimately responsible not only for the academic programs we run but also for the operation of the campus and fundraising for our institution. As rector I represent and position our university institution regionally and internationally to fellow institutions worldwide, governments, and a large variety of strategic cooperation partners.While completing my MBA studies at Vlerick Business School, I also took up the position of administrative director from January 2023. As administrative director, I am responsible for finances and management of our buildings; I lead the administrative and technical personnel; special focus is on fundraising and PR.As a Full Professor of Practical Theology, I teach in the BA, MA and PhD programs at our faculty and direct various research projects. I am coordinator of our Master of Teaching in Religion and I am the director of our research institute ISREYM (Institute for the Study of Religious Education and Youth Ministry). As a theologian and education expert my specializations are in the areas of empirical practical theology, religious education, youth ministry, and learning processes in faith communities. I serve in different international academic networks either as board member or journal editor.On a more personal note, as a family we have been a foster family since 2012, first in the Netherlands, now in Flanders. We have experience in crisis care, short- and long-term care and psychiatric foster care. Caring for vulnerable children and youth has my heart. With this hands-on experience in baggage, the youth care sector and improving care for vulnerable children and families also has my special interest.I obtained master’s degrees in education science (Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands) and religion and theology (Utrecht University, the Netherlands). In 2005, I obtained my PhD in social sciences at Radboud University Nijmegen. I obtained an MBA degree from Vlerick Business School (Brussels/Gent/Leuven). Before my appointments to ETF Leuven I worked as an assistant professor researcher, education expert, teacher, consultant and senior policy advisor at different other institutes.#Governance; #Finances; #Strategy; #HigherEducation; #Education; #Leadership; #Theology; #PracticalTheology; #ReligiousEducation; #YouthMinistry #YouthCare