March 13, 2025
Elva Ellertsdóttir and Kolbrún Eggertsdóttir, administrative staff at the School of Social Sciences, write
Twenty years ago, we at the University of Iceland gained a good addition when Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, a candidate for rector, began working as a part-time lecturer and later as director of the Institute of International Affairs. We, as administrative staff, have had an exceptionally good collaboration with Silja Bára from the beginning, a collaboration based on trust and respect for different roles in administration and academia.
Silja Bára's experience within the University of Iceland is diverse and extensive. She has worked on administrative projects by sitting on various committees and working groups, in addition to teaching and research. Our experience of working with her has always been good, she comes prepared to meetings, listens to different points of view and always tries to find solutions if there is a disagreement, which is inevitable in a large institution.
Silja Bára therefore has a comprehensive knowledge of school administration and its importance for its functioning. We have worked on many different projects with Silja Bára and as we know, not all administrative tasks are easy and fun. When the tasks are complex or difficult, there is no one better than Silja Bára who goes to work fearlessly. She is selfless and often has many balls in the air. She is organized but always ready to deal with unexpected situations.
Silja Bára is open-minded and quick to discern the kernel from the chaff, making decisions with deliberation and firmness. She completes projects within set deadlines without compromising on quality. She is exceptionally skilled at identifying people's strengths and connecting different parties effectively, something we have often witnessed and participated in.
The University of Iceland, especially teaching, is a matter of great interest to her. She has taken the initiative in developing teaching methods and has both won teaching awards and shared her development work with colleagues. As administrative staff with long-term experience, we have repeatedly heard students speak very warmly of Silja Bára to us and her role in their development. She emphasizes that students benefit from diverse teaching methods and has made a special effort to support them in writing their final theses.
Silja Bára is fun and has a very warm presence, which is a good quality in a leader. She shows people trust and strives to uphold that trust. If she is elected, the staff and students of the University of Iceland will be in good hands. We strongly recommend that people vote for Silja Bára as rector.
