Andrea Peto Awarded Honorary Doctorate by Sodertorn University

Andrea Peto, professor in the Central European University (CEU) Department of Gender Studies and a research fellow at the CEU Democracy Institute, was awarded an honorary doctorate this month by Sodertorn University of Stockholm, Sweden.

“We proposed Professor Peto as the recipient of an honorary doctorate to support her decisive scholarly contributions to gender research in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as her dedication to promoting this perspective at regional, national and European levels,” said Professor Joakim Ekman, director of the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies, and one of the people who nominated her.

Chair of the Faculty Board Peter Dobers noted that by awarding an honorary doctorate to a researcher of such dignity, “Sodertorn University clearly shows the quality and relevance of the research conducted here, not least that relating to the Baltic Sea region and Eastern Europe.”

Reflecting on the award, Peto stated: “Sodertorn University and CEU share a common mission. Sodertorn was founded in 1996 to attract more people to higher education from an environment in southern Stockholm where pursuing university studies was uncommon. Therefore, I consider it a particular honor that following decades of academic cooperation, my work was recognized by colleagues who are known internationally not only for their teaching excellence and cutting-edge research on issues related to the Baltic Sea and Eastern European regions, but also for fighting for academic freedom and human rights.”

Peto will be formally presented with her honorary doctorate at Sodertorn University’s Commencement Ceremony in 2022, as the 2021 ceremony had to be cancelled owing to the pandemic.