New foundation established: "Close ties to the university"

Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) is to receive a new foundation: Professor Dr. Mechthild Dreyer and Hans-Joachim Diener have established it. Dreyer has been a member of the JMU University Council since 2019.

The couple is contributing several properties to the foundation. With the proceeds of the "Univ.-Prof. Dr Mechthild Dreyer und Hans-Joachim Diener Stiftung", the two founders want to support young academics at JMU in three subjects: law, Catholic theology and philosophy.

There are several reasons why the two have set up a foundation in favour of JMU: On the one hand, they are "very attached to the Würzburg region and the university and would like to give something back to the university by setting up the foundation". Secondly, they are convinced of JMU's expertise in property management: "We know that the properties are in good hands with Mrs. Wehrmann's department." Sabine Wehrmann is head of the department: Servicezentrum Bau, Liegenschaften, Körperschaftsvermögen.

The foundation deed was signed on 20 March 2026 at the notary's office of Professor Peter Limmer and Dr. Wolfgang Friedrich on Würzburg's marketplace.

Voices on the establishment of the foundation

"The generous donation from Mechthild Dreyer and Hans-Joachim Diener is an impressive sign of a living commitment to our university. The fact that it specifically strengthens law, Catholic theology and philosophy - three of the oldest university subjects - is of particular importance: even today, they make an indispensable contribution to orientation in a complex world. For us as a comprehensive university, this support is therefore particularly valuable. We are very grateful to the donors for this extraordinary commitment," said JMU President Paul Pauli.

"We are very grateful for the extraordinary generosity of Professor Mechthild Dreyer and Hans-Joachim Diener. The foundation represents a clear and effective enrichment for the support of the university and opens up additional opportunities to invest specifically in the promotion of young academics," says JMU Chancellor Uwe Klug.

About the donors

Mechthild Dreyer held the Chair of Medieval Philosophy at Mainz University from 1999 to 2021, where she still lives with her husband. From 2010, she held the full-time position of Vice President for Studies and Teaching there for eight years. As one of ten personalities from science, culture and business, she is still active on the JMU University Council today. Among other things, the Board elects the President of the University.

Hans-Joachim Diener was born in Würzburg and studied law at the University of Würzburg. After completing his studies, he joined the judiciary of the Free State of Bavaria in 1981. This was followed by positions as a judge at Aschaffenburg District Court and Würzburg Regional Court. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, he helped to establish the judiciary of the Free State of Saxony from 1993. He headed several courts there until his retirement.