Honorary Senators
The Technical University of Munich (TUM) confers the title of Honorary Senator on persons who have distinguished themselves through longstanding commitment to the future development of the university. Honorary senators receive the rights of membership of the university.
Since 1978, the title has been conferred on the following persons:
2019
Entrepreneur and benefactor
Dr.-Ing. Karl Busch was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2019.
Entrepreneur and benefactor
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rudolf F. Schwarz was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2019.
2018
Entrepreneur and benefactor
Dipl.-Ing. Max Aicher was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2018.
Entrepreneur and benefactor
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. Urs Brunner was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2018.
Chair, TUM Board of Trustees 2000–2006
Vigdis Nipperdey was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2018.
Civil engineer and benefactor
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gallus Rehm (1924–2020) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2018.
Benefactor
Renate Schmucker was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2018.
Benefactor, Professor of Astronautics
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Schmucker was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2018.
State minister (retired)
Dr. Otto Wiesheu was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2018.
2017
Former Minister President of the Free State of Bavaria
Dr. Edmund Stoiber was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2017.
2016
Entrepreneur, TUM alumnus and benefactor
Roland Lacher was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2016.
Benefactor
Uta Lacher was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2016.
Entrepreneur and benefactor
Ingeborg Pohl was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2016.
First mayor of the town of Burghausen
Hans Steindl was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2016.
2015
Co-founder of the TUM University Foundation, formerly executive of Süd-Chemie AG, patron of the arts
Dr. Karl Wamsler (1928–2016) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2015.
2014
Ministerial Director, Bavarian State Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Science
Dr. Adalbert Weiß was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2014.
2012
Former owner and director of Weidinger GmbH
Dipl.-Ing. Hanns W. Weidinger was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2012.
2011
Entrepreneur and Director of the oncological clinic in Bad Trissl
Peter Rösner was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2011.
Lord Mayor of the university city of Freising
Dieter Thalhammer was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2011.
2010
Head of Innovation Technology Research and Development at Nestlé S.A.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Werner Josef Bauer was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2010.
Founder of the Obermeyer group of companies
Dr. Leonhard Obermeyer (1924–2011) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2010.
Former Spokesman of the Board of Managing Directors and chairman of the shareholders’ committee of the private bank Merck Finck & Co.
Dr. Wilhelm Winterstein was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2010.
2009
Board Member of the Schöller Foundation, Nürnberg
Gerhard Sußbauer was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2009.
2008
CEO of Capgemini sd&m, Munich
Edmund Küpper was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2008.
2006
Former management board member of BMW AG
Prof. Dr. Burkhard Göschel was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2006.
Lawyer, Managing Director of the Bavarian Construction Industry Association
Gerhard Hess was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2006.
2005
Chairman of the Johannes B. Ortner Foundation and former building contractor, Munich
Johannes B. Ortner was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2005.
2004
Entrepreneur, deputy chairwoman of the supervisory board of Altana AG and member of the supervisory board of BMW AG
Susanne Klatten was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2004.
Managing partner of the consortium Theo Müller GmbH & Co. KG
Theo Müller was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2004.
2002
Entrepreneur, Margarete Ammon Foundation
Margarete Ammon was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2002.
Former CEO of Linde AG
Gerhard Full was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2002.
Head of the Committee for Higher Education, Research and Culture, Landtag/Parliament of Bavaria
Dr. Paul Wilhelm (1935–2008) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2002.
2001
CEO of IVU Traffic Technologies AG
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ernst Denert was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2001.
2000
Honorary chief executive of the Fresenius Holding AG
Hans Kröner (1909–2006) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 2000.
1999
CEO of Bertelsmann Buch AG
Frank Wössner (1941-2020) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1999.
1998
Head of the Committee for the State Budget and Financial Affairs in the Landtag/Parliament of Bavaria
Ernst Michl (1935–2001) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1998.
Ministerial Director (retired)
Dr. Hans Zimmermann was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1998.
1997
Member of the Board of Supervisory of the energy corporations VEBA and VIAG
Dr. Jochen Holzer (1934–2019) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1997.
Presiding Judge at the Oberlandesgericht (Higher Regional Court), Munich
Prof. Dr. Gerhard H. Schlund was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1997.
1996
Mayor of the town of Garching, near Munich
Helmut Karl (1938–2012) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1996.
1995
Owner of the Klinge-Holding Foundation, Munich
Günther Klinge (1910–2009) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1995.
1994
Ministerial Director (retired)
Dietrich Bächler was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1994.
Deputy chairman of the shareholders' committee of the Henkel KGaA
Dr. Jürgen Manchot (1936–2004) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1994.
1993
Managing Director of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Dr. Heinrich Pfeiffer (1927–2016) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1993.
His Royal Highness Duke Franz of Bavaria was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1993.
Former President of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg
Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Fiebinger (1922–2014) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1993.
Bank Director (retired)
Dr. Elmar Prasch (1933–2020) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1993.
Honorary President of the Bavarian Business Association, Honorary Chairman of the Association of the Bavarian Metal and Electrical Industry
Hubert Stärker was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1993.
1992
Architect
Franz Berberich (1905–1996) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1992.
Executive of AGROB AG, Ismaning
Erwin Nagl was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1992.
1991
Director General of the Deutsches Museum, Munich (retired)
Dr. Otto Mayr was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1991.
Chairman of the board of trustees of the Ernst von Siemens Foundation
Dr. Heribald Närger (1923–2015) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1991.
1990
Spokesman of the Board of Management of Wacker-Chemie GmbH, Munich
Dr. Johannes Kohl was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1990.
Managing Partner of the company Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG
Friedrich Schwarz was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1990.
Personally liable partner of the brewery Gabriel Sedlmayr Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu KgaA,
President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Munich and Upper Bavaria
Dr.-Ing. Dieter Soltmann was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1990.
General director of the BayWa AG
Prof. Dr. Otmar Wasmer (1925–2003) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1990.
1989
Member of the Board of Directors of Siemens AG
Prof. Dr. Heinz Gumin (1928–2008) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1989.
1988
Ministerial director, Head of the Supreme Building Authority of the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior
Manfred Milz (1926–2002) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1988.
Member of the Board of Directors of SKW-Trostberg AG
Dr. Heinrich Röck was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1988.
1987
Architect (Association of German Architects), Honorary President of the Bavarian Chamber of Architects, and political cartoonist for the Süddeutsche Zeitung
Ernst Maria Lang (1916–2014) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1987.
Member of the supervisory board of Siemens AG
Peter von Siemens (1937-2021) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1987.
1985
Technical Director of the energy supply company Elektromark Kommunales Elektrizitätswerk Mark AG
Gerhard Hecker was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1985.
1984
Lawyer, Managing Director and Member of the Executive Board of the Bavarian Construction Industry Association
Gerhard Klamert was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1984.
1982
Director of IBM Germany
Prof. Dr. Karl E. Ganzhorn (1921–2014) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1982.
CEO of BMW AG
Eberhard von Kuenheim was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1982.
Ministerial Director
Walther Weißauer was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1982.
1980
President of the Federal Railways Office in Munich
Dr.-Ing. Alfons Thoma (1917–2011) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1980.
1978
Member of the Advisory Board of the company Dr. August Oetker KG in Bielefeld
Dr. Guido Sandler (1928–2019) was made an Honorary Senator of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in 1978.
The information provided was current at the time the award was received.