by InTrieste
In a closely watched vote held on Tuesday, Professor Donata Vianelli was elected the next rector of the University of Trieste, becoming the first woman to lead the institution in over a decade. Vianelli will serve a six-year term from 2025 to 2031, succeeding outgoing rector Roberto Di Lenarda.
Professor Vianelli, a longtime member of the university’s academic faculty, ran against fellow candidate Professor Ilaria Garofolo. Both had officially presented their candidacies in recent weeks, complete with detailed professional dossiers and formal endorsements.
Her election comes at a pivotal time for the University of Trieste, as it prepares to enter a new academic and administrative cycle marked by both internal reforms and evolving challenges in higher education across Europe.
Known for her expertise in business and marketing and her longstanding commitment to interdisciplinary teaching, Vianelli has pledged to focus her tenure on digital innovation, international partnerships, and stronger ties between research and the regional economy.
The University of Trieste, founded in 1924, celebrates its centennial this year and is widely regarded as a hub for scientific research, particularly in physics, medicine, and environmental studies. With Vianelli’s appointment, the institution now turns a new page in its leadership.
