Women Professors Network at Unifr

About us

Visionary female professors from different disciplines came together to establish the Women Professors Network at the University of Fribourg. United by a shared recognition for the need for connection, collaboration, and advocacy, they created a platform to build a supportive community for women in academia. The network seeks to empower women professors by fostering the exchange of ideas, building meaningful relationships, and driving innovation within an inclusive and intersectional environment.

Mission

We are committed to cultivating a thriving academic community by championing collaboration, mentorship, and visibility for women in academia. Together, we aim to address challenges, unlock potential, and create a more inclusive and intersectional university culture where women thrive as leaders, innovators, and mentors.

• Objectives
  • Foster collaboration and exchange: promote sharing of experiences, skills, and mutual support to build a strong community and solidarity among members.
  • Strengthen interdisciplinary connections: build bridges between women professors across faculties and establish open communication channels with university leadership.
  • Enhance visibility and recognition: advocate for greater visibility of women professors as leaders and changemakers within the university and the wider academic community.
  • Inspire and mentor future generations: serve as role models and provide mentorship to empower and motivate early-career academics and students.

   

• Vision

  A university community where gender equality is the norm, where women professors are fully represented in leadership roles, and where their contributions to academia are celebrated and supported. Through collaboration and advocacy, we envision a culture of inclusion and innovation that benefits women professors and the entire academic community.

• Founding members

  The network was founded by 14 women professors representing diverse disciplines at Unifr.

  Selma Aybek	Anna Jazwinska
  Patricia Boya	Chantal Martin-Sölch
  Talitha Cooreman-Guittin	Sarah Progin-Theuerkauf
  Alke Fink	Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser
  Esther González Martínez	Esther Schwarzenbach
  Regula Hänggli Fricker	Anne von Philipsborn
  Diana Ingenhoff	Joëlle Vuille

• Membership and contact

  Join the Women Professors Network at Unifr!

  Are you interested in connecting with other women professors at the University of Fribourg? Are you interested in participating in activities and discussions that support women in academia?

  The network is open to all women researchers at Unifr holding Full, Assistant, or SNSF Professor positions.

  Joining is easy and free of charge! Complete the membership form. Together, we can cultivate a supportive and inspiring community.

  If you have questions, please contact us at women-prof@unifr.ch

• Launching Event

  The launch event took place on March 10, 2025

  16.00: first general assembly open for all interested Unifr women professors

  17.00: public conference “Inclusive language: a storm in a tea cup or an answer to a real problem?”, by Prof. tit. Pascal Gygax, winner of Marcel Benoist Prize 2024 - The conference is open to all, but registration is required here.

  Introduction :

  • Prof. Katharina Fromm, rector
  • Prof. Chantal Martin-Sölch, vice-rector
  • Prof. em Ruth Kellerhals

  18.00: Aperitif offered by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Office

• The Members' Networking Breakfast

  The Members' Networking Breakfast took place on Wednesday May 28 2025.