Barbara Schermaier-Stöckl

Professor Barbara Schermaier-Stöckl is the President of the Catholic University of Applied Sciences of North Rhine-Westphalia (katho), having assumed this leadership role in February 2024. Prior to her presidency, she served as Vice President for Research and Continuing Education (2020-2024) and has been a Professor of Law at the Department of Social Work since 2012, initially at the Aachen division (2012-2020) and subsequently at the Cologne division (since 2020).

Her academic journey includes a doctorate from the University of Vienna (2003-2008) with a dissertation on integrating mediation elements into civil proceedings, and law studies at the Universities of Salzburg, Vienna, and Paris II (1986-1991). Before entering academia, she served as a civil and family court judge in Austria (1998-2012) after completing her judicial training (1992-1998). She is also a certified mediator (BAFM) since 2002, with specialized training completed in 2001-2002.

Professor Schermaier-Stöckl's research focuses on the legal dimensions of social work across multiple vulnerable populations. Her work examines social law (particularly social security, disability rights, and rehabilitation), asylum and immigration law, criminal law, and mediation within social service contexts. She has made significant contributions to understanding professional assessment processes in child protection, the legal frameworks for social work with migrants and refugees, and the implementation of legal requirements in practical social work settings.

She is best known as co-author of the widely adopted textbook 'Soziale Arbeit und Recht' (Social Work and Law), now in its third edition (2024), along with the accompanying case collection. Her publication record includes numerous scholarly articles addressing the practical application of legal frameworks in social work contexts, with particular emphasis on child protection, mediation, and rights of vulnerable populations.

Her administrative service includes roles as Central Equality Commissioner (2019/2020), member of the Departmental Council (2014-2020), and responsibility for the 'Start Now' project supporting students with refugee backgrounds (2017-2020). Her interdisciplinary approach bridges legal scholarship with practical social work applications, making significant contributions to both fields through her unique perspective informed by judicial experience, mediation expertise, and academic rigor.