‘Medallion Day is a relatively new tradition at the UvA. It started in 2021, and since then I look forward to it every year,’ said Ten Dam. ‘It is a pleasure to show our appreciation in this way to those who have made exceptional efforts for our university. This year's Medallion Day was extra special, because it was the first to acknowledge the work of an alumnus.’

‘I am extremely impressed by the work of the laureates,’ said Verbeek. ‘What is striking is that although they are all active in quite disparate fields, they still have much in common. In addition to their tireless efforts, enthusiasm and perseverance, all four are also born bridge-builders, who have successfully dedicated themselves to promoting education at the UvA.’

The laureates

Michiel van Kempen, professor by special appointment of Dutch-Caribbean literature at the Faculty of Humanities

Van Kempen is a major ambassador for his discipline – Dutch-Caribbean literature and culture – and therefore also for the UvA. In every respect, his efforts go beyond what can or should be expected from a professor by special appointment. In addition to being a formidable academic conducting groundbreaking research, he is also a passionate lecturer and dedicated binding force, always working to generate interest in his field and to contribute to more inclusive and diverse education at the UvA. Van Kempen has a unique and exceptional ability to inspire students to delve into postcolonial issues and/or Caribbean literature. From his position at the UvA, he enthusiastically maintains an extensive global network of researchers and academics, gives international lectures and guest lectures, and offers up the breadth and depth of his knowledge, experience and network to the public domain. He also expressly involves writers and other visual artists in the formation and dissemination of knowledge. The fact that he does all of this while actively writing fiction and poetry makes Van Kempen a very special professor by special appointment indeed.

Jessica Piotrowski, professor of Communication in the Digital Society at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Piotrowski is without doubt one of the most passionate advocates for the UvA's core task: education. In addition to her academic work (which has received international recognition), Piotrowski has also focused her boundless energy, original ideas and tremendous decisiveness on educational innovations, to elevate and maintain teaching at the highest level. She took the lead during COVID, for example, leading to the Keep on Teaching project and more tools for education. At the UvA, her efforts were praised universally as an essential source of help in uncertain times, with universities throughout the Netherlands ultimately able to make use of the fruits of her labour. The Educational Redesign Aid web tool - the development of which Piotrowski played a crucial role in - proved to be of inestimable value to digital operations and was a major success. She was also involved in the inception of the Teaching and Learning Centre, where she is now the Managing & Founding Director for the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Piotrowski's body of work has been of enormous importance, not only to the students and staff of the Graduate School of Communication (of which she is the director), but for the UvA as a whole, and even beyond.

Jan Laan, alumnus of the former Faculty of Spatial Sciences

As an alumnus with a career at the highest levels of public administration, Laan has shown exceptional dedication to his alma mater for over twenty years. Laan's efforts have resulted not only in a new Traffic and Transport chair for the UvA, but also a new programme that addresses the challenges of our era: complex thought, co-creation of knowledge, and political urgency. Laan initiated the foundation Intensive and Compound Use of Space (sLIM in Dutch), whose mission it is to generate knowledge for the creation of a sustainable society. As chair of the foundation and a public administrator, he succeeded in mobilising his network to provide political and financial support for his initiative. The result was an experimental programme that, as a module within the Master's in Urban and Regional Planning, provided innovative, international and practice-based education for twenty years. The university took responsibility for the independent content and academic assessment of the programme, with Laan always playing an intensive and inspiring preparatory role to support its practical relevance. Thanks to Laan's tireless efforts, many students have been able to enjoy a unique module where research and preparation for professional practice go hand-in-hand.

Hanneke Lips, executive secretary Education & training at the Faculty of Medicine

Lips played a crucial role in improving the way medical education was organised at the UvA. During a challenging period of transition within the faculty, she succeeded in making significant advancements in educational quality, while also improving financial processes, and always keeping the interests of Medicine and Medical Informatics students in focus. One example of her efforts was the allocation of National Education Programme funds and quality agreement funds to areas requiring attention, leading to the use of ‘medical educators’, among other things. These proved indispensable during the transition to online education during COVID-19, and ensured that the faculty was remarkably resilient to the major problems that corona caused in education. As a bridge builder and with her enormous proactivity and perfect knowledge of dossiers, Lips' commitment extended far beyond her actual portfolio, that of policy advice. She became an indispensable and irreplaceable force in enhancing the medical faculty's internal structure, enabling the successful implementation of inspiring new Bachelor's and master's components in the Medicine programme.

About the UvA Honorary Medallions

Honorary Medallions are intended for people of all positions, backgrounds and disciplines, from all layers of the UvA. Individuals who are not employed by the UvA may also be eligible for an Honorary Medallion. The nomination for an Honorary Medallion can be submitted by any member of UvA staff. Based on the nominations, the UvA Honorary Medallions Committee, chaired by Agneta Fischer (dean of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences), advises the Executive Board on the awards.