Jenny Kopsch-Xhema honored for diversity-sensitive leadership

Dr. Jenny Kopsch-Xhema, this year's winner of the Fü(h)r divers prize, has been employed at the University of Stuttgart since May 2019. She now leads SimTech’s management team of approximately 20 members, who nominated her for the award. "This award means a lot to me - especially because it comes from my team. For us, diversity is not an additional task, but a central part of excellent research and good collaboration. It's a daily learning process - and I'm lucky to be supported by a great team,” said Jenny Kopsch-Xhema.

Prof. Judith Tonhauser, Vice Rector for Early Career Researchers and Diversity and a jury member of the “Fü(h)r divers” award, stated: “Jenny Kopsch-Xhema is a true role model for her team. Through her active support of the queer community in both academia and management, her respectful, diversity-aware communication, and her commitment to regular feedback discussions, she exemplifies diversity—both structurally and in her everyday interactions. I would like to congratulate Ms. Kopsch-Xhema on this award and thank her for her commitment to an open and diverse university culture.”

On Diversity Day at the University of Stuttgart on May 26, participants were able to exchange ideas, network and compete in the Diversity Pub Quiz on the Campus Beach in a relaxed atmosphere and with good food provided by the stuvus team. Participants included the Dual Career Team, the Education and Social Inequality Working Group, the Diversity and Equal Opportunities Officer, the Max Planck Institute, stuvus: Department for Equality, Diversity and Social Affairs, the Language Center, contact persons for sexual harassment, SimTech, IntCDC and uniqUS - Staff Unit for Inclusive University Culture.

The “Fü(h)r divers” prize was awarded for the second time at the University of Stuttgart and honors diversity-sensitive managers. The managers are nominated by their own employees. This year, the prize is endowed with 5000 euros. The jury consisted of Prof. Judith Tonhauser, Vice Rector for Early Career Researchers and Diversity, Dr. Hauke Berendt (Social Philosophy), Dr. Kristin Eichhorn (Literary Studies and co-initiator of the award), Dr. Ulrich Eggert (Inclusion Officer), Dr. Luise Goroncy (Appointment Management) and Sonja Rapp (Human Resources Development).