Fritz Hausjell, who has co-shaped the profile of our Department for decades and will receive a fitting farewell this semester, commences his well-deserved retirement on October 1. In his place, Annie Waldherr will join the team of the Department Chair and serve as new Vice-Chair during the upcoming period of two years. Sabine Einwiller will continue for another two years as Department Chair. Jörg Matthes will also remain in the leadership team of the Department as Vice-Chair.

Further changes will be in place within the Directorate of Studies. Desirée Schmuck will take over the position as Vice-Director of Studies for our English-speaking Master program in Communication Science from Annie Waldherr. Sophie Lecheler, who has served as speaker of the Vienna Doctoral School of Social Sciences (ViDSS) and shaped the development of our doctoral program over the last few years will end her tenure by the end of September. From October onwards, Claudia Wilhelm will act as Vice-Director of Doctoral Studies of Social Sciences representing our Department.

The Department of Communication would like to thank all colleagues for their dedicated and invaluable work and service for the Department and the University of Vienna during the last few years.