Nijsten was originally a historian and also has extensive board and management experience in higher education and science. Before his appointment as director of operational management at the Faculty of Humanities, he worked at the VU Amsterdam, including as director of operational management at the Faculty of Arts and as strategic advisor to the Executive Board. He also gained experience at the Hogeschool Holland and the Hogeschool van Amsterdam as a teacher and education manager.

In the role of UvA/HvA Library director, Nijst will succeed Maria Heijne, who left the post last January. In the intervening period, the position was taken over by Bert Zeeman, in close collaboration with the Library’s management team.