Liisa Suvikumpu

Liisa Maria Suvikumpu
Born April 12, 1975, Helsinki

Master of Arts 2000, Licentiate 2008, PhD 2009 (general history), University of Helsinki
Docent in European History 2010–, University of Helsinki
Eisenhower Fellow 2011, USA

Managing Director of the Council of Finnish Foundations 2013–
Commissioner, 2009–2013 WSOY Literature Foundation
Commissioner, 2009–2013 Institutum Romanum Finlandiae Foundation

Member of the Administrative Council of the Uusimaa Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation 2010, and vice-chairman 2014–
Member of the Administrative Council of the Finnish National Theatre 2013–
Board member 2013–, Gummerus Publishers
Board member 2015–, Christine and Göran Schildt Foundation

Publications, research and other academic activity

Awards
Lauri Jäntti Prize 2015 for the book Suomalaiset kylpylät – Kotimaisen kylpyläkulttuurin historiaa (‘Finnish spas – the history of Finnish spa culture’) (Finnish Literature Society)

Finnish Art Society’s Literature Award 2012 for photo editing of the book Porrashuoneet (‘Stairwells’)

Winner of the prize Vuoden kristillinen kirja (‘Christian book of the year’) (together with Tuomas Heikkilä) 2009 for the work Pyhimyksiä ja paanukattoja (‘Saints and wood-shingle roofs’)

Photo: Annika Rauhala
Written by Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta
Translated by Matthew Billington

My dream: prioritise people and research

I hope Finns never stop esteeming academic education and research. In times of austerity a strong community spirit needs to come to the fore at the University of Helsinki – the University is its people.

People and research ought to be the first priority of the University, not money or productivity targets. It’s the competence of the people of the University of Helsinki that gives pride to all of us alumni.

By Written by Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta. Translated by Tero Heikkinen. Revised by Matthew Billington