Séverine Boulon: “Staying in touch with all staff members”
On January 12, the Board of Trustees, acting on a proposal by President Philippe Augé, elected fourteen vice presidents—both statutory and delegated—to oversee the governance of the University of Montpellier. Séverine Boulon, who oversees social responsibility and campus life, is one of the new faces on this team, and we caught up with her at (S)pace. Let’s meet her!
Name?
Séverine Boulon
Position?
I have been Vice President of the University of Montpellier in charge of social responsibility and campus life since January 2026.
Social Responsibility?
Social responsibility encompasses promoting quality of life at work and preventing psychosocial risks, as well as combating all forms of discrimination to foster a university committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
What is the scope of your mandate?
My mandate consists of four main actions.
Promote recreational activities and organize events on the variousUM campusesUM foster opportunities for interaction and camaraderie.
Support social services aimed at assisting employees and their families who are facing social and work-related difficulties, in collaboration with social service workers.
We are working to create an inclusive university that promotes equality and diversity and combats all forms of discrimination. To this end, we implement substantive initiatives and raise awareness through regular and special events, such as the Week Against Racism and Anti-Semitism in March and the Week Against LGBT-Phobia in November.
Finally, improve the quality of life at work and prevent psychosocial risks by developing a concrete action plan in collaboration with the various stakeholders on the Psychosocial Risks and Quality of Life at Work Steering Committee, with the goal of promoting a positive work environment and the well-being of staff and users within theUM.
The Boulon Method?
I will remain attentive to all staff members, their challenges, and their needs—drawing also on the comprehensive social report—and promote cross-functional collaboration among all departments and divisions involved in social responsibility within the institution.
First term?
No, I served as an elected member of the IUT council for ten years starting in 2014 and as associate department chair in the Department of Biological Engineering at the IUT Montpellier-Sète for three years, from 2019 to 2022. At the university level, I was also an elected member of the Research Committee and the Academic Council for four years. I am currently a member of the executive committee of the Human Resources Committee for the Biology and Health Division at the university.
Education?
I primarily teach at the Montpellier-Sète University Institute of Technology (IUT) in the Department of Biological Engineering. I teach protein biochemistry, cell biology, physiology, and pharmacology. I also teach a few hours of classes in the teacher certification preparation program at the Faculty of Sciences in molecular genetics.
Researcher?
I am a researcher, and I am very happy to be one. I conduct my research as part of Edouard Bertrand’s team at the IGH ( Institute of Human Genetics), focusing on the role of molecular chaperones in cancer cell resistance.
From Montpellier?
I’m not from Montpellier; I’m originally from Lyon, but I came to Montpellier in 2000, first to pursue my DEA, and then to work on my dissertation in cellular and molecular biology. After a five-year postdoctoral fellowship in Dundee, Scotland, I returned to the University of Montpellier in 2010 as an associate professor.
“Oser!”
This is a training program I took in 2015–2016. At the time, the program was led by Françoise Le Mouel and was called Springboard. It was designed for female faculty members and researchers.
This program is part of the University’s Gender Equality Plan and is led by Agnès Fichard-Carroll, Vice President of the CFVU and Gender Equality Officer. Since then, the program has been renamed “Oser! L’ESR au féminin” and has been opened to women working in administrative and support roles (Biats).
Due to Françoise Le Mouel’s retirement, I was trained to become a trainer myself. Since 2022, I have been co-facilitating this training program with Laure Parmentier (Rouages: “Working for Important Causes”), who is the head of the Workplace Quality of Life Department within the University’s Campus Life Division.
VSS?
The University is deeply committed to addressing issues of gender-based and sexual violence. In this context, I was appointed between 2024 and 2025 as the liaison for internal investigations into gender-based and sexual violence, working alongside Jean-Paul Udave.
In a nutshell!
Responsibility?
Social
Campus?
All campuses.
Work?
Wellness.
Discrimination?
To be avoided.
Science?
Future
Woman?
Proud to be one.
Values?
Teamwork.
UM
Engaged.