Important Personalities and Pioneers

Hon­or­ary Cit­izens

Personalities who are connected to the University in a special way can be appointed as honorary citizens of Paderborn University. This honor is usually not awarded to members of the University or its staff.

2015: Heinz Paus, former mayor of the city of Paderborn

2000: Prof. Dr. Craig Dean Willis, president of Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania

1999: Wilhelm Lüke, former mayor of the city of Paderborn

1994: Renate Nixdorf †

1994: Wilhelm Ferlings, former principal of the city of Paderborn

1989: Herbert Schwiete †, former mayor of the city of Paderborn

1982: Prof. Dr. Martin Stepani †, former general music director, former director of Detmold Academy of Music

1978: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Helmut Boghdan †, former senior building director, former director of Höxter State School of Engineering

1975: Prof. Dr. René Lehmann †, former president of Le Mans University

1973: Prof. Dr. phil. Josef Haupt †, former senior building director, former head of State School of Mechanical Engineering, Paderborn

Hon­or­ary Doc­tor­ates

The faculties of Paderborn University can award the doctoral degree "honoris causa" for outstanding scientific achievements. Further criteria are the personality of the person to be honored and his/her relation to the University. The person to be honored may not work full-time at the University.

2019: Maria von Welser (television journalist), awarded by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

2017: Prof. Dr. Christiane Floyd (Universität Hamburg), awarded by the Faculty of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Mathematics

2016: Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier (former German Foreign Minister), awarded by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

2012: Herta Müller (Nobel Prize winner for literature), awarded by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

2011: Prof. Dr. sc. techn. Dr. h.c. mult. Alfred Fettweis † (Ruhr-Universität Bochum), awarded by the Faculty of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Mathematics

2010: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Manfred Nagl (RWTH Aachen), awarded by the Faculty of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Mathematics, Department of Computer Science

2009: Prof. Dr. Bernd Schauenberg (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg), awarded by the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics

2009: Dr. Reinhard Höppner † (Mathematician and former Minister President), awarded by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Institute of Protestant Theology

2005: Andreas Mertin (Protestant theologian and educationalist), awarded by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Institute of Protestant Theology

2000: Prof. Dr. Günter Hotz (Universität des Saarlandes Saarbrücken), awarded by the former Department 17, Subject: Computer Science

1998: Prof. Dr. Albrecht Pietsch (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena), awarded by the former Department 17, Subject: Mathematics

1993: Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Hemfort (Member of the Board of Management of Westfalia Separator AG in Oelde), awarded by the former Department 10, Subject: Machine Technology

Hon­or­ary Sen­at­ors

Personalities who have supported the University in a unique way as patrons or sponsors can be appointed as honorary senators of Paderborn University.

2004: Dr. Peter Zinkann, Managing Partner of the Miele Company

1997: Hubertus Benteler, Chairman of the Board of Benteler AG

Hon­or­ary Pro­fess­or­ships

The award of the title "honorary professor" requires outstanding achievements in professional practice in the application or development of scientific knowledge and methods or outstanding artistic achievements and five years of successful independent teaching at the university.

2019: Dr. Andreas Marchetti, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Department of Romance Languages

2017: Prof. Dr. Gerhard E. Ortner, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Department of Social and Human Sciences, Subject: Philosophy

2017: Dr.-Ing. Christian Obermann, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Technology

2016: Dr. Madjid Tavana, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department 3: Business Information Systems

2016: Dr. Florian Turk, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department 1: Management

2013: Dr.-Ing. Wilko Flügge, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Material and Joining Technology

2013: Dr. Michael Brands, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry

2012: Dr. Jens Krüger, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department 3: Business Information Systems

2012: Dr. Klaus Dieter Hungenberg, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry

2011: Dr. Jörg Hernler, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department 2: Taxation, Accounting and Finance

2009: Günther G. Goth, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department 1: Management

2007: Dr. Walter Gödden, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Department of German Studies and Comparative Literary Studiest

2006: Dr. Jutta Prieur-Pohl, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, History Department

2005: Joachim Veit, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Musicology Seminar Detmold/Paderborn

2004: Dr. Burkard Wördenweber, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dynamics and Mechatronics

2004: Dr. Anne Ratzki, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Department of Educational Science

2002: Dr.-Ing. Kurt Alfred Ruppert, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Process Engineering and Environmental Process Engineering

2002: Dr. jur. Walter Seidensticker, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department 6: Law

2002: Dr. Ralf Ohlendorf, former Department 5, Economics

2002: Dr. Carsten Martin Claussen, former Department 5, Economics

2002: Dr. Friedrich Ostermann, former Department 10, Mechanical Engineering

2001: Dr. Gerhard Janssen, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Department of Media Studies; Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department 6: Law

2001: Dr. Matthias Wemhoff, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, History Department

2000: Dr. Gerd Bock, former Department 14, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

1998: Dr. jur. Werner Schmeken, former Department 10, Mechanical Engineering

1997: Dr. Anne-Lene Fenger, former Department 1, Subject: Catholic Theology

1996: Dr.- Ing. Peter Puschner,  former Department 10, Mechanical Engineering

1992: Woldemar Winkler †, former Department 4, Subject: Arts

1992: Dr. phil. Hans Taubken, former Department 3, Subject: Linguistics and Literary Studies

1992: Dipl.-Ing. Ottomar Apelt,  former Department 16, Subject: Electrical Energy Technology

1990: Dr. phil. Manfred Balzer, former Department 1, Subject: History

1989: Dr. agr. Karl-Heinrich Hoppenbrock, former Department 9, Subject: Agriculture

1987: Dr.-Ing. Michael Clewing, former Department 16, Subject: Electrical Energy Technology

1987: Dr. rer. nat. Eckhard Schlimme,  former Department 13, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

1985: Dipl.-Ing. Günter Bolle,  former Department 14, Subject: Electrical Engineering

1985: Dr. jur. Steffen Gronemeyer, former Department 5, Subject: Economics

1985: Dr. rer. pol. Heinrich Kürpick,  former Department 5, Subject: Economics

Medal

The founding of the first five comprehensive universities (combination of regular university and "Fachhochschule") in North Rhine-Westphalia was associated not only with the goal of expanding the educational offerings in the state, but also with the hope of contributing to the improvement of educational structures through a concept of reform in higher education policy. In order to thank those who supported the University in fulfilling these tasks by promoting research and teaching, strengthening the connection to practice or enhancing regional, supra-regional and international relations, the senate and rectorate/presidium donates the medal of Paderborn University as a sign of appreciation.

2019: Prof. em. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Peter Freese, Paderborn University

2019: Prof. em. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Hartmut Steinecke, Paderborn University

2008: Prof. Dr. Sándor Antus, University of Debrecen

2004: Prof. Dr. Rafael Alcalá Aranda, University of Zaragoza

2002: Prof. Dr. Santiago García Echevarría, University of Alcalá

2000: Prof. John Johnston, Lock Haven University

1999: Dr. Rosemarie Herrmann, guest service at Paderborn University

1999: Waltraud Holzapfel, guest service at Paderborn University

1998: Jean-Michel Eichelbrenner, partnership officer Le Mans/Paderborn

1995: Franz-Albert Metternich-Sándor, duke of Ratibor and lord of Corvey

1994: Denise Landry, general secretary of Université du Maine

1994: Prof. Dr. Alain Pleurdeau, president of Le Mans University

1983: Prof. Cecil Thurston Butler, assistant director of Trent Polytechnic Nottingham

1979: Prof. Francois Dornic, former president of Le Mans University