University Governance and Legal Entity
Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU) is a private, nonprofit, research-led institution of higher education, which operates under the legal entity of an Austrian Association, the Bildungsverein für die Freunde der Webster University (St. Louis, USA), ZVR-number 726528316.
WVPU Governance
The university’s governing bodies are defined and elaborated in the Constitution as follows:
The General Assembly
The General Assembly represents the economic and academic interests of WVPU’s parent university, Webster University, and jointly decides with the University Council on the University’s strategic and financial development.
University Council
The University Council monitors the overall management by the Executive Board of the university operation and jointly, with the General Assembly votes on the university’s strategic and financial development. It consists of four prominent individuals who hold responsible positions in society.
Current members of the UC:
- Dr. Ryan Guffey, Director General for Global Campuses, Webster University
- Dr. William Lynch, Professor Emeritus from Webster University
- Richard Ryffel, Senior Director of Philanthropy, Beyond Housing
- Dr. Stefan Zapotocky, Chairman of the Board of Directors at RPR Privatstiftung Vienna (Chair of the University Council)
Executive Board
The Executive Board constitutes the University’s leadership. It consists of the Director (equivalent to “Rektor” in the Austrian higher education sector), the Associate Director and the Head of Finance and Administration (both equivalent to “Vizerektor”).
WVPU Governance
Image Transcript
Heading: Organisational Structure
Webster Vienna Private University October 2026
The top-level structure consists of three sets of boxes arranged vertically. On the
left, the first box lists Advisory Board with Student Government Organisation underneath.
Center set of boxes: At the highest level is the General Assembly. Positioned directly
below is the University Council. Below the University Council is the Executive Board.
The boxes to the right feature University Senate at the higher level with Working
Group on Equal Opportunities underneath.
A horizontal line branches downwards from the Executive Board, connecting to three
major columns of university divisions.
The first branch on the left, labeled Academic Units, includes multiple department
boxes: Business and Management Department, Computer Science Department, International
Relations Department, Law Department, Media Communications Department, Psychology
Department. To the Left is a three-box listing stating Academic Services, Advising
and Language Center. To the right of the department boxes is an encompassing vertical
panel labeled Institutes, with Institute for Interdisciplinary Ethnography below it,
followed by The Joseph von Sonnenfels Center.
The middle branch, labeled Finance and Administration, includes boxes for Finance
Office, Admissions Office, Marketing and Communications, IT, Library and Facility
Management.
The third branch on the right, labeled Human Resources and Student Affairs, includes
boxes for Human Resources Office, Career Services Office, Student Affairs and Alumni.
The layout utilizes distinct colored rectangles and connecting lines to visually differentiate
between various groups and their positions within the university's governance.
Consultative and Representative Bodies
The Advisory Board advises the Executive Board on matters pertaining to visibility and reputation in regional business, cultural and educational communities, providing insights into market needs and external funding opportunities.
The Heads of Academic Units provide leadership in implementing the university’s development plans and policies, and they are involved in strategic development planning, budgeting and personnel matters relating to their scientific and administrative staff.
The Heads of Administrative Units are responsible for the leadership and successful operation of their respective units in pursuit of the strategic goals of the university. They represent the unit internally and liaise with all relevant stakeholders.
The University Senate, which represents the interests of faculty, scientific support and administrative staff, and students, is in cooperation with the Executive Board, responsible for the university’s academic self-administration in accordance with § 5 (2) PrivHG.
The Senate comprises members elected by permanent and adjunct faculty, staff and students. Current Senate representatives include:
- Jozef Bátora
- Benjamin Fasching-Gray
- Andrea Gaal
- Nermin Podzic
- SGA President
The Student Government Association is an independently financed organization consisting of students holding official mandates (voting representatives), and offices operating according to the Federal Act on the Student Representative Organizations (Students’ Union Act 2014 – HSG 2014), relevant guidelines of the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH), and the Constitution of the SGA. It represents the interests of the students and holds a seat in the University Senate.
The Working Group on Equal Opportunities is responsible for combating gender discrimination, as well as discrimination based on ethnicity, religion or conviction, age or sexual orientation by university governing bodies, and for advising and supporting the university’s members and governing bodies in connection with these issues.
The Works Council represents the rights and the interests of employees of WVPU. It is composed of four representatives elected every five years in compliance with the Labour Constitution Act (ArbVG), the Works Council Election Ordinance (BRWO 1974) and the Works Council Rules of Procedure (BRGO 1974).
Current representatives:
- Alexandra Pekackova Modelska
- Nermin Podzic
- Dr. Anatoly Reshetnikov
- Dr. Eva Zedlacher
