New additions to OsloMet's leadership

The four newly appointed leaders will take office on 1 August 2023, in fixed-term positions of four years.  

Vice-rector for Research and Development

Tanja Storsul has been appointed as the new vice-rector for research and development. She comes from the position as director of the Institute for Social Research, where she has been working since 2016. She also has extensive experience as a professor and head of department at the Department of Media and Communication at the University of Oslo.  

Storsul has a doctorate in media studies and a master’s degree in political science.  

She is looking forward to starting at OsloMet.  

“I have a strong commitment to research, and for research to make a difference in society. The research conducted at OsloMet will be central in facing some of the major challenges of our time, and I look forward to contributing to strengthening research at OsloMet”, says Tanja Storsul.  

Rector Christen Krogh welcomes Storsul to OsloMet.  

“Tanja Storsul has a broad background, both professionally and as a top leader. She knows our sector well and has a solid reputation and position. Tanja is strategically strong with great implementation power, both academically, as a leader and in regard to research policy. I am convinced that Tanja will contribute to further lifting research and development at OsloMet”, says Krogh.  

Storsul will be replacing Per Martin Norheim-Martinsen, who ends his term of office this summer. The rector thanks him for achieving good results and for his dedicated efforts for the university.  

“Per Martin has done a very good job during an important period for OsloMet. His work has contributed to OsloMet strengthening its position as a research university, and he has contributed significantly to the increased professionalisation of OsloMet’s research administration. He has also had an important role in leading the university's initiatives on sustainability and innovation, he says.  

“I greatly appreciate the collaboration we have had, and I look forward to continued collaboration in the future”, says Krogh.  

Vice-rector for societal impact and knowledge exchange

Carl Christian Thodesen is appointed vice-rector for societal impact and knowledge exchange at OsloMet, a newly created position at the university. Thodesen comes from the position as dean at the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design at OsloMet, which he has held since 2019.  

Before coming to OsloMet, he headed the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at NTNU. Thodesen has a PhD in materials and statistics from Clemson University in South Carolina, and extensive experience as a civil engineer and researcher at, among others, SINTEF.  

“I am looking forward to getting started in the new vice-rector position. We already do a lot of good things at OsloMet, but still have potential to contribute positively to society with our fantastic students and staff, who constantly have new and exciting ideas”.  

“I have had four great years at TKD, and now I am looking forward to getting to know all the departments and centers at OsloMet. You can all expect a visit from me soon”, says the future vice-rector for social improvements and cooperation.  

Rector Christen Krogh welcomes Carl Christian Thodesen to the rectorate.  

“At OsloMet, we are not only concerned with what we are good at, but what we are good for in society. Over the years as dean at the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, Carl has shown a very good ability to put the university's work in a societal context. Carl's broad leadership experience, his national and international experience, combined with his professional weight and relational qualities will be very good contributions to OsloMet's work in the area”, says Krogh.  

Dean of the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design

Laurence Habib has been appointed as the new dean of the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design. She comes from the position as head of the Department of Information Technology at the same faculty, which she has held since 2011.  

Habib has worked at OsloMet since 2003 and has previous experience from private business and the institute sector. She has a PhD in Information Technology from the London School of Economics.  

Habib is looking forward to starting her work as dean.  

“The Faculty of Technology, Art and Design is an exciting environment with a unique constellation of expertise with unimaginable opportunities for cross-pollination, new thinking and innovation”, she says.  

“In a world that is becoming more complex and uncertain, the faculty is a natural part of the development of new knowledge. I want us to be a catalyst for more collaboration across the university, and for even closer collaboration with businesses outside of OsloMet”, says the incoming dean.  

Rector Christen Krogh is happy about the appointment.  

“Laurence Habib has extensive experience from the university and in-depth knowledge of the faculty she will lead. As head of the Department of Information Technology at OsloMet, she has been central in developing this department into becoming one of Norway's strongest technology environments. Society is completely dependent on the candidates the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design produce and the research carried out by the academic staff. I have great faith that Laurence will contribute to developing and lifting the faculty further.”, says the rector.  

Head of Centre for Welfare and Labour Research

Kåre Hagen is appointed as head of the Centre for Welfare and Labour Research (SVA) at OsloMet and is entering his third term as head of SVA after he was employed in 2014, when the center first was established at the university.  

Before that, he was head of department for the Welfare Research Institute NOVA, and has management experience from BI, where he was head of department between 2004 and 2010.  

"I would like to thank the board for giving me this trust”, says Kåre Hagen. 

“I believe that in the future we are facing major changes in the research landscape, and that expectations for even more policy-relevant social research will become stronger. It is a great challenge and an exciting task to be able to lead such a great research environment as SVA, and with that to help ensure that both the green shift and the challenges of the welfare state can be handled on the basis of solid, research-based knowledge”, says Hagen. 

Rector Christen Krogh is happy that Hagen is continuing his work at SVA.  

“I am happy that OsloMet can continue to have one of the country's most experienced welfare researchers as head of the Center for welfare and working life research”, says Rector Christen Krogh.   

“This center is unique among Norwegian universities and colleges and plays an important role in society.”  

“Kåre Hagen has been, and still is, an important driving force behind the development of the country's largest professional environment for applied social research. I look forward to working with him further to develop both the Center for welfare and labour research and the university”, says the rector.