Achim Dilling has been elected as the new Chancellor of Ruhr University Bochum.
Chancellor election
Achim Dilling to Become New Chancellor of Ruhr University Bochum
The 51-year-old business economist comes from the University of Passau. He will become chancellor of Ruhr University Bochum in January 2026.
The Rectorate of Ruhr University Bochum is delighted that Dr. Achim Dilling has been elected as the new chancellor. On January 1, 2026, he will succeed Dr. Christina Reinhardt, who is stepping down from office after ten years. The university election assembly elected the business economist on June 5, 2025, for a ten-year term. Dilling has been Chancellor of the University of Passau since 2016.
Managing the challenges of change
“On behalf of the Rectorate, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Achim Dilling,” said Rector Professor Martin Paul. "We are delighted to have gained a proven expert with many years of experience in university management and the private sector. He is an accomplished manager with a background in business administration who will tackle the tasks ahead with verve. At his current place of work, he has impressively demonstrated his ability to manage the challenges of change in particular, making him an excellent fit for our community at Ruhr University."
Contribution to urban development
Dr. Achim Dilling has had a decisive influence on the strategic and structural development of the Passau campus. In doing so, he has also made a significant contribution to the urban development of the city of Passau and has been committed to bringing the university and the city closer together.
“The collaboration with Chancellor Dr. Dilling is characterized by trust and shared responsibility for the development of the University of Passau,” said Professor Ulrich Bartosch, President of the University of Passau. “Dr. Dilling confidently guided the university administration through the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and ensured that the administration remained fully operational even during the transition period when the presidency changed hands. In addition, he was managing director of the Neuburger Gesprächskreis Wissenschaft und Praxis e. V. (Neuburg Discussion Group on Science and Practice), to which he gave important impetus. We wish him all the best for the future.”
“The University of Passau was a special place for me – professionally, personally, and strategically,” says Achim Dilling, looking back on his work there. “I am grateful for the many opportunities to shape the university, for the trust placed in me by the university, the city, and the ministry, and for the collaboration with dedicated colleagues. The decision to leave Passau was not an easy one for me. Nevertheless, I am now looking forward to my new role at Ruhr University – an excellent academic location with great scientific influence and social relevance. Being actively involved in this further development, also in the context of the University Alliance Ruhr, is a challenging and meaningful prospect for me – and at the same time an opportunity for personal and professional development.“