New Head of the Department of Law with a Broad Perspective
As of September 1, 2025, Ole Hammerslev will become the new Head of the Department of Law at the University of Southern Denmark. He joins SDU from his position as Professor at the Department of Sociology of Law at Lund University.
Ole Hammerslev has been appointed as the new Head of the Department of Law at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). The department covers all major legal disciplines and employs 65 staff members across the campuses in Odense, Kolding, and Esbjerg. Ole Hammerslev is a leader with a strong command of the law and a broad perspective, and he looks forward to taking on the exciting role:
- I’m very much looking forward to becoming part of the Department of Law at SDU. The university has a strong focus on quality and on creating value for and with society – and that certainly applies to the Department of Law as well, says Ole Hammerslev.
- With my leadership experience – both within and outside SDU – I aim to contribute to strengthening the department’s work in research and external funding. At the same time, I will lead the department and help maintain its strong position in education and teaching, where academic excellence, societal engagement, and collaboration go hand in hand, he adds.
The Department of Law is part of the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, and Dean Hanne Søndergaard Birkmose is looking forward to working with Ole Hammerslev:
- I’m very pleased to welcome Ole Hammerslev in September as our new Head of Department. We appointed him because of his proven leadership experience and solid familiarity with SDU. He brings valuable perspective and vision for the department, says Dean Hanne Søndergaard Birkmose.
Ole Hammerslev has previously served as Deputy Head of Department and Head of Research. Between 2014 and 2023, he was affiliated with SDU as a professor and programme director. He has also been a member of the Independent Research Fund Denmark.
A Book Lover with a Taste for Sourdough
Outside of work, Ole Hammerslev lives in Frederiksberg with his wife and two children, aged 10 and 17. In his spare time, he enjoys reading novels—currently by authors from the Global South—listening to music, attending concerts, and baking bread. He will succeed Nina Dietz Legind, who has served as Acting Head of Department since spring 2024.