Eva Eglāja-Kristsone reelected as director of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia

Leading researcher Eva Eglāja-Kristsone has been re-elected for a second term as Director of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (LU LFMI).

Eva Eglāja-Kristsone emphasized that she appreciates her colleagues’ trust and the opportunity to continue serving as Director of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia:

“In the coming period, I see the key priorities as strengthening the quality of research and international cooperation, attracting young researchers and doctoral students, and developing a supportive and motivating work environment. The institute’s next stage of development is linked to more focused research, closer collaboration among researchers, society, and partners in the cultural and creative sectors, as well as a strong academic community.”

According to the decision adopted at the meeting of the LU LFMI Scientific Council on 25 March 2026, Eva Eglāja-Kristsone was elected Director of the institute for the next five years and began serving her second term on 13 May 2026.

“The Scientific Council unanimously supports and looks forward with confidence to continuing our joint work in the coming period,” said Ieva Garda-Rozenberga, Chair of the LU LFMI Scientific Council. “Director Eva Eglāja-Kristsone is a long-standing leading researcher at the institute who has grown professionally within it, knows every colleague well, has stood beside them in both strong and difficult moments, and understands when encouragement or a firmer approach is needed. We are pleased to continue strengthening the institute’s international competitiveness, with particular attention to developing research excellence through purposeful and collaborative scientific and innovation activities, building sustainable international cooperation with European partners, and fostering closer engagement with society and stakeholders, thereby reinforcing the social and economic impact of the humanities.”

“As Chair of the LU LFMI Scientific Council, I highly value our cooperation to date, which has consistently focused on scientific excellence, the institute’s strategic development, a sense of unity among staff and a strong team spirit, as well as responsible human resource management,” she added.

The results of the LU LFMI director election were approved on 14 April 2026 by Gundars Bērziņš, Rector of the University of Latvia.

“Under the leadership of Eva Eglāja-Kristsone, LU LFMI continues to establish itself as a global research leader in the humanities. Therefore, it is gratifying both that Eva is interested in continuing to lead the institute and that the LU LFMI Scientific Council values and entrusts her with this responsibility,” said Guntars Kitenbergs, Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Latvia. “I wish the institute an even more ambitious next leadership period, setting ever higher standards by attracting Europe’s most prestigious European Research Council and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions grants, and by even more widely promoting and advocating Latvia’s unique humanities research both nationally and internationally. I am delighted by this strong example of the development of the University of Latvia’s research ecosystem.”

In the international evaluation for the 2019–2024 period, LU LFMI received the highest possible assessment, becoming one of only two Latvian scientific institutes rated as excellent.

^{Photo: Eva Eglāja-Kristsone. Credit: Toms Grīnbergs, University of Latvia.}