University Board
The Rector serves as the presenter of matters that come before the University Board and the general counsel as the secretary. The Finance and Service Director and the preparatory official of the issue being discussed also participate in the meetings.
Director General Antti Koivula
Antti Koivula (DSc (Econ.), industrial psychology, Helsinki University of Technology, 1998) is serving as the chair of the board of the University of Jyväskylä from 2026 to 2027. Koivula has worked as the Director General of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health from 2015. Before that, he had a long career in leadership and strategic management positions at Nokia and as a researcher at the Helsinki University of Technology. He also is a member of the board of advisors at the State Treasury of Finland and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland, and a member of the board of directors at Alko.
Senior Vice President Hanna Maula
Hanna Maula (DSc (Econ.), management studies, Aalto University, 2018, Lic.Phil in organizational communication & public relations, University of Jyväskylä, 2004) is Senior Vice President, Communications, Sustainability & Public Affairs at Neste Corporation. She has wide experience in communications and marketing as well as research in Finland and internationally. She has also worked as a communications director for Aalto University and as Vice President, Communications & Brand for Neste and UPM.
Maula is a member of the General Assembly at the Confederation of Finnish Industries, the chair of the Communications Committee at the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland and a member of the board at Design Forum Finland. She has served as a vice chair of the board at the University of Jyväskylä from 2022.
Professor Marja Makarow
Professor, PhD Marja Makarow has been a member of the University Board of the University of Jyväskylä since 2023. PhD Marja Makarow is currently the president of Academia Europaea (AE) and a board member of the European Innovation Council (EIC).
Previously Marja Makarow has worked as, for example, a vice rector and a professor of applied biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Helsinki, a chief executive of the European Science Foundation (ESF), a vice-president for research at the Research Council of Finland, a board member of European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT), and the director of Biocenter Finland. Makarow has served on the boards of several universities and is a member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters.
CEO Janne Poranen
Janne Poranen (DSc (Physics), University of Jyväskylä, 2001) starts as a new member of the board at the University of Jyväskylä. Poranen is the CEO, Executive Chairman of the Board and a co-founder of Spinnova Oyj. Before his career as an entrepreneur, he was the head of the research area of fibres and biobased materials at VTT. He also held managerial roles in research and customer relations for over 15 years at VTT.
Professor Hannu Häkkinen
Hannu Häkkinen is a Professor of Computational Nanoscience in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. He is currently leading the ERC Advanced Grant project, “Dynamic Nanocluster – Biomolecule Interfaces”, which studies the interfaces and interactions of metal nanoparticles and biomolecules.
From 2022 to 2025, he was the vice dean responsible for research at the faculty. From 2016 to 2020, he served as an Academy Professor.
Professor Pasi Ihalainen
Pasi Ihalainen is a professor of Comparative European History. From 2021 to 2026, Ihalainen serves as an Academy Professor, researching changing representative democracy using quantitative and qualitative comparative conceptual history methods. He has served as the main representative of General History, a member of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and a member of the University Collegium.
Ihalainen has led the Finnish Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies and the Jufo panel, and has been a member of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' history working group, the board of the Finnish Historical Society, and the board of the Finnish Institute in Germany. He is a member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters and president of the International Association for Political History.
Senior Lecturer Olli-Pekka Moisio
Olli-Pekka Moisio is a senior lecturer of philosophy at the University of Jyväskylä and a docent at the University of Tampere. He has long experience in the fields of social sciences, education, teacher training and humanities. His central research topics are related to twentieth century European philosophy and the philosophy of adult education. For years, Moisio has served as a pedagogical head of the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, a board member of the Association of Researchers and Teachers of Jyväskylä (Jytte), a deputy labour union representative, and a member of the Science Council, the Education Council and the University Collegium.
Service Manager Jouni Penttinen
Jouni Penttinen works in Digital Services as a service manager in the customer service unit. His work focuses on developing the service management system and service processes, as well as working closely with suppliers and customers. He serves as the supervisor of the service desk team and is responsible for organising service delivery and enhancing the customer experience.
Penttinen has extensive experience in staff cooperation, having served as the chief shop steward at the University for fifteen years. In addition, he works as an internal coach at the University.
Student Jenni Suutari
Jenni Suutari holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences. She is currently studying for a master's degree in social sciences and philosophy, specialising in political studies. Alongside her studies, Suutari works as an expert in education policy and advocacy for the The Union of Upper Secondary School Students.
Suutari is a city councillor and member of the city board in Jyväskylä, as well as a council member for the wellbeing services county of Central Finland. She has also previously served on the boards of the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) and the Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä (JYY), as well as on the JYY Representative Council.
Student Akseli Haanpää
In its meeting on 17 September 2025, the Council of Representatives of the Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä elected Akseli Haanpää as the student members of the University Board. The term of a student member is two years, 2026-2027.
Akseli Haanpää is a student of Social sciences and Philosophy at the University of Jyväskylä and a student of Administrative sciences at the University of Tampere. Haanpää is currently the chairman of the Finnish Student Sports Federation. Previously, he has served as the Chair of JYY's Board and in the Representative Council.
