A distinguished quartet helming the Faculty of Humanities

Johanna Viimaranta, Dean

Dean oversees the Faculty’s strategy and performance.

“Before serving as the dean, I was the director of the Department of Languages at the Faculty for four years and learned a lot about how the University operates. I also observed what affects everyday life, occupational wellbeing and productivity as well as personal relationships in the University community. People are much more interesting than I could ever have imagined in my previous teaching and research positions.” 

These experiences inspired Viimaranta to apply for the deanship.

“As dean, I can influence these matters and learn a lot about both University operations and the humanities. Time and again, I’m impressed by the scope and societal relevance of the University’s humanities research.” 

As Professor of Russian Linguistics, Viimaranta is interested in the constructs of the Russian language, its use and status in Finland and other countries, comparisons between Slavic languages and the relationship between language and thinking. She has taught courses in Russian linguistics and, earlier in her career, practical language skills. 

Tiina Airaksinen, Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs

Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs focuses specifically on the pedagogical and strategic development of teaching, guidance and supervision at the Faculty of Humanities.

“I applied for the position because I’m interested in the development of teaching. In my work, I strive for an active and forward-looking culture of discussion and action in the context of teaching, guidance and supervision at the Faculty. I encourage teachers to complete pedagogical studies in support of their expertise, identity and wellbeing.”

Airaksinen arrived at the University of Helsinki in 2003 after receiving her doctorate from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She is a fellow of the Teachers’ Academy and a qualified teacher.

As Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies, Airaksinen examines in her research broader themes, such as identity, imperialism, nationalism, migration and women’s agency. 

“At the moment, I’m investigating Asian immigrants, especially women, in Finland, as well as Chinese nationalism. Together with Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, we are conducting research on higher-education pedagogical leadership. With blended teaching and digital pedagogy among my other interests, I am also investigating how technology and management practices can improve university learning.”

Krister Lindén, Vice-Dean for Research

As Vice-Dean for Research, oversees research, doctoral education, innovation, business collaboration and partnerships as well as bilingual affairs. He also manages international affairs and sits on the executive board of the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies.

Lindén emphasises that the Faculty’s funding structure encourages different kinds of success: just over half of the performance-based core funding budget is determined in the University’s internal allocation on the basis of key research indicators.

“At our Faculty, disciplines have many paths to success, some of the most important being high-quality research, active publishing and doctoral education. For smaller disciplines in particular, this opens up the opportunity to build on their strengths.”

Now Research Director of Language Technology at the University, Lindén originally graduated in computer science. 

He has extensive experience in the development of humanities research infrastructures. From the beginning of 2026, he has been a member of the Research Council of Finland’s Scientific Council for Research Infrastructures. Earlier, he served as the director of the FIN-CLARIAH infrastructure. In the international context, Lindén chairs the National Coordinators’ Forum of the CLARIN ERIC infrastructure and the SWE-CLARIN humanities research infrastructure in Sweden. 

Before his academic career, Lindén worked as a chief executive officer and chief technology officer for almost nine years.

“At the Faculty of Humanities, I wish to promote collaboration with businesses and the third sector, raising awareness of the importance of humanities research.”

Mirkka Lappalainen, Vice-Dean for Public Engagement

is responsible for public engagement and communications, including alumni relations and fundraising, research infrastructures, sustainability and responsibility, equality and inclusivity.

“I applied for the position midway through the previous term of office, which means I’ve now been in the role for some time. The position of vice-dean is a wonderful vantage point from which to observe ongoing processes at the University and the Faculty, and also an opportunity to influence them. The University is an enormous and interesting organisation where there is always something happening.”

Lappalainen wishes to strengthen the status of scholarship, knowledge and university education in society, as well as that of the humanities at the University. 

“I also wish to develop management and related communications, and the conditions for research.”

As Senior University Lecturer in History, Lappalainen specialises in the early modern era in Finland and Sweden. 

“I’m interested in the history of the state and the exercise of power, criminal and legal history, and, for instance, the history of diseases and their treatment. I’ve taught and supervised students at the University for a long time, and I previously headed the Bachelor’s Programme in History.”