Prof Martha Frederiks appointed rector PThU
During its meeting on 10 April 2025, the General Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands ratified the decision of the Supervisory Board of the Protestant Theological University (PThU) to appoint Prof Martha Frederiks as rector of the PThU. Martha Frederiks is currently working at Utrecht University but will start at the PThU on 1 August. The PThU is very pleased with the appointment: 'With Martha Frederiks as rector, we are bringing in a valued theologian and someone with extensive administrative experience.’
Unanimous choice
The appointment of Prof Dr Frederiks is the result of an thoughtful process. After the Supervisory Board drew up a profile for the new rector in the spring of 2024, the appointment advisory committee spoke with several candidates. In the end, the committee unanimously chose Martha Frederiks. The Supervisory Board subsequently decided to appoint Frederiks. Gerard Endedijk responds as chair of this council: ‘We are convinced that Prof Frederiks is an excellent rector for the time the PThU finds itself in. She is a practicing member of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, has been a pastor, she has a PhD in theology, she has knowledge of the Dutch theological landscape, has a significant working life as a professor and has an authoritative academic background in terms of teaching and research. With her work as vice-dean of education at the Faculty of Humanities at Utrecht University, Prof Dr Frederiks has extensive administrative experience.’
Academic excellence and service to church and society
Martha Frederiks looks forward to starting work at the PThU on 1 August. ‘Within the PThU, academic excellence and service to church and society are inextricably linked. That appeals to me greatly and is close to my heart. And it is something I would like to stimulate and facilitate in my role as rector. I have great appreciation for my colleagues at the PThU and look forward to working with them.’
About Martha Frederiks
Martha Frederiks (born 1965) is Professor of the Study of World Christianity at Utrecht University. She specialises in Christianity in Africa, Christian-Muslim relations and Religion and Migration. She gained administrative experience as head of the Utrecht University Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies (2013-2019) and as vice-dean of Education of the Faculty of Humanities (2020-2024). She studied Theology and Islam at the University of Utrecht and the Duncan Black MacDonald Institute in Hartford CT.
