Marina Marzia Brambilla, vice-rector delegated to Teaching and Student Services, has been elected rector of the University of Milan. She is the first woman to lead the university, which turned 100 this year. Brambilla received 1,652 preferences against 645 for Luca Solari. The proclamation took place at the end of the counting of ballots in the university’s main hall.
Three women at the helm of Milan’s public universities
With her appointment, all three public universities in Milan will be led by women. «It took a hundred years but we did it», commented Brambilla with emotion, dedicating the result to the students, researchers and professors who paved the way.
«Universities places of dialogue»
The new rector said she was aware of the great challenges that await her, starting from next September 1st: «It will be six complex years, characterized by environmental and digital transition, with important commitments towards the territory, the country and Campus Mind». Brambilla then underlined the importance of dialogue and reflection in a historical period marked by conflicts: «Universities must remain places of discussion and freedom, passion and discussion». The rector assured that she will start from dialogue with colleagues, without exclusions, to guide the University towards the future.
Who is Marina Brambilla
Professor of German Linguistics, she will be rector from 1 October 2024 until 30 September 2030, succeeding Elio Franzini. Brambilla, 50 years old, has been vice-rector for teaching and services since 2018. You preside over the University-Slam linguistic center and the Observatory for the right to education, which you helped create. She is the contact person for the Pnrr Orientation network and delegate of the Committee of Rectors of the Lombard Universities (Crul) for orientation and represents the University in the Cisia and Almalaurea consortia.
From 2012 to 2014 she was the rector’s delegate for Erasmus and, from 2014 to 2018, for Orientation and Placement. Among the points of his program: making the Mind and Città Studi campuses reference centers of knowledge for the social, human and scientific sciences, at a national and international level, enhancing scientific research, creating new infrastructures, consolidating the medical centers with the territory, strengthen relations with the national health system and scientific research centres, pay attention to the student component both in terms of training offer and services, develop welfare understood not only as personal well-being but also as educational and value growth and economical.
The reactions
«My congratulations to Marina Marzia Brambilla, elected today Rector of the University of Milan. First woman to lead the university in the year in which the University reaches the illustrious milestone of 100 years. Our most sincere wishes for good work to you”, the president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, writes about her on social media. Even the mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, sent his “congratulations” to Brambilla via social media: “I will meet her soon – he explained – to talk about the many projects we will work on together”. «Congratulations and best wishes for good work to Professor Marina Brambilla – the comment of the president of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana -. From September you will take over from rector Elio Franzini, whom I thank for the work done and the fruitful collaboration.”