Anne Goossensen

Anne Goossensen serves as Lecturer in End-of-Life Care at Avans University of Applied Sciences' Centre of Expertise Perspective in Health, while holding concurrent professorships at the University of Humanistic Studies (Listening & Quality of Living Together) and HBO Drechtsteden (Transition, Grief & Loss). With over 30 years of research experience, she bridges academic theory with practical community applications in death and bereavement studies.

Her research spans clinical psychology, care ethics, humanistic studies, and palliative care, with particular expertise in qualitative, quantitative, and ethnographic research methods. Goossensen pioneered the concept of 'listening intelligence' and explores how communities can develop death literacy and grief literacy through citizen-led initiatives. Her work focuses on transforming how society approaches mortality through compassionate university models and community-based support systems.

• State Secretary Van Rijn's recognition (2016 International Day of Palliative Care)
• Leadership in National Palliative Care Program II implementation
• Development of compassionate community models

As academic supervisor, Goossensen provides PhD guidance in Listening & Quality of Living Together at the University for Humanistic Studies while collaborating on Death Literacy development projects. She founded Villa Tröst, a citizen-for-citizen grief support foundation in Dordrecht, and hosts 'SterfTalks' exploring existential questions about mortality through theater collaborations. Her vision aims to create 'a world where dying, death and bereavement are an open part of all conversations, circles, settings, (care) systems and cultures'.