President

Katharina Dahm took office as President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences on March 1, 2026.

She studied law at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), where she earned her doctorate in labor law and completed her postdoctoral lecture qualification in civil law and sports law. She worked at the Chair of Civil Law, Labor Law, and Commercial Law as a research assistant and subsequently as a lecturer.

In 2018, Katharina Dahm was appointed Professor of Employment Law, Private Commercial Law, and Public Welfare Law at the School of Business, where she also headed the master’s program in Labor and Employment Law and Human Resource Management from 2018 until 2026. She served on the university’s Senate from 2021 to 2024. 

In September 2022, Katharina Dahm was elected Central Equal Opportunities Officer at Mainz University of Applied Sciences, and, following her re-election, remained in office until February 2026. During this time, she significantly advanced gender equality at the university through a wide range of initiatives, culminating in Mainz University of Applied Sciences being recognized as a “University with Strong Gender Equality” (Gleichstellungsstarke Hochschule) by an external review panel in the second round of the federal and state “Program for Women Professors 2030” (Professorinnenprogramm 2030).

From April 2024 to February 2026, in her role as elected spokesperson of the State Conference of Equal Opportunities Officers at Universities in Rhineland-Palatinate (LaKoG RLP, formerly LaKoF*), she championed gender equality at universities of applied sciences at the state level. In her capacity as LaKoG spokesperson, she also served as a member of the Extended Executive Board of the Federal Conference of Women’s and Equal Opportunities Officers at Universities (bukof).

Katharina Dahm was admitted to the Academic Association for Family Law (wissenschaftliche Vereinigung für Familienrecht), and is a member of the German Family Court Conference (Deutscher Familiengerichtstag), the Association of Civil Law Teachers (Zivilrechtslehrervereinigung), the German Association of University Teachers (Hochschullehrerbund Deutschland), and the German Association of Women Lawyers (Deutscher Juristinnenbund).

In the performance of her duties, the President is supported and represented by three Vice Presidents.

Vice President, Research & Transfer

Anett Mehler-Bicher has been Vice President, Research & Transfer at the university since March 1, 2020.

She studied Mathematics with Computer Science and a minor in Business Administration at Johannes Gutenberg University and received her PhD from Otto-Friedrich University Bamberg in 1996. During this time, she also worked as an academic lecturer at the European Business School and as the managing director of a consulting firm.

In late 2002, she was appointed to a professorship in Information Systems at Mainz University of Applied Sciences. There, she developed various business information systems degree programs and has headed the degree program IT Management on-the-job M.Sc. since 2011.

Anett Mehler-Bicher was Dean of the School of Business from 2012 to 2020.

As Vice President, Research and Transfer, Professor Dr. Mehler-Bicher is responsible for the strategic development of the university’s research and transfer profile. Her key areas additionally include supporting early-career researchers, expanding research infrastructure and research data management, continuing education, and broadening start-up activities. She also heads the cross-university transfer alliance EMPOWER.

Vice President, Studies & Teaching

Kerstin Molter has been Vice President, Studies & Teaching at Mainz University of Applied Sciences since March 1, 2021.

Kerstin Molter studied Architecture at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern and started her own architectural practice there in 2003. She has been a professor of Construction and Design at Mainz University of Applied Sciences since 2013. She regularly performs consulting activities, for example as a member of the design advisory board of the city of Mainz from 2011 -2017 and as a member of the panel of judges in architectural competitions. Since 2009 she has been a member of the Rheinland-Palatinate branches of the Deutscher Werkbund (German Association of Craftsmen) and the Bund Deutscher Architektinnen und Architekten (Association of German Architects).

As Vice President, Studies and Teaching, Professor Molter is responsible for the strategic development of studies and teaching. Oversight of the Competence Center for Innovation in Studies and Teaching, which develops didactic concepts and methods; quality management for the continued development of degree programs; and the university library as a space for knowledge and exchange all fall under her purview.

Vice President, Communication & Community Outreach

Gregor Ade has been Vice President, Communication & Community Outreach at Mainz University of Applied Sciences since March 1, 2021.

After graduating with a degree in Communication Design from Offenbach University of Art and Design, Gregor Ade worked as a designer at MetaDesign in Berlin starting in 1999 and then founded the design firm ade hauser lacour kommunikationsgestaltung in Frankfurt one year later. In 2008, he joined the Peter Schmidt Group as Creative Director and Managing Partner and in 2015 accepted a temporary professorship for Corporate Identity and Corporate Design at Mainz University of Applied Sciences. In 2017, he took on a permanent professorship for Corporate Identity, Corporate Design, and Typography in Mainz. Gregor Ade is a member of the German Designer Club (Deutschen Designer Club (DDC)), the Art Directors Club (ADC) and the Board of Trustees of the Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt.

As Vice President, Communications and Community Outreach, Professor Ade is responsible for the overall strategic and content-related management and development in the areas of university communications, university branding, marketing, community outreach, fundraising, alumni communications, the university-wide website management team, and the LUX pavilion of Mainz University of Applied Sciences.

Chancellor

Jens Egler has been Chancellor of Mainz University of Applied Sciences since August 2020.

Born in Saarbrücken, he first studied Industrial Business Management at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration (Dipl.-Betriebswirt (FH)). From 2001 to 2013, Jens Egler held various positions of responsibility at Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, including Project Manager for the university's expansion and Head of the Qualification and Continuing Education unit. Parallel to his professional activities, he continued his education with two part-time master's degree programs and was one of the first graduates of the degree program in Academic Management at the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer.

As of April 2013, Jens Egler was Administrative Director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz and, in this capacity, was responsible for managing the Administration and Technology Department.

As Chancellor of Mainz University of Applied Sciences, Jens Egler heads the university administration. He serves as the budget officer and oversees financial, construction, property, HR, and legal affairs. His areas of responsibility also include occupational health and safety, facility management, quality management in the administration, and the Studies and Career Service Center.