Sonja Hock

Dr. Sonja Hock serves as Executive Director and Research Associate at the Department of Geography, University of Bonn, since 2012. She also leads the Examination Office. Her roles include managing academic administration and research initiatives. Previously, she held positions at Goethe University Frankfurt, University of Bayreuth, and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

Education: Ph.D. (Dr. phil.) from Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (2004), focusing on regional initiatives in Nuremberg. Master of Arts in Geography, Economics, and Didactics (1996). Professional training includes communication and management (BDVT-certified) and regional consulting.

Research interests include regional development, urban management, and intercultural communication. She has worked on projects in Yemen (trekking and development) and managed networks like the Research Network Area Studies and Deutsch-Jemenitischen Gesellschaft. Active in academic societies such as VGDH and the Geographical Society of Bonn.

Key administrative roles include Old Town Manager in Erlangen (2006), Executive Director of intercultural communication networks (2003–2005), and consulting for GTZ in Yemen (2005–2006).