Brynja Björk appointed Chair of the Department of Psychology at RU

Dr. Brynja Björk Magnúsdóttir has been appointed Chair of the Department of Psychology at Reykjavik University, effective January 1, 2027. Brynja Björk is an associate professor and the head of the specialist training program in clinical neuropsychology at RU. She will succeed Dr. Kamilla Rún Jóhannsdóttir, who has served as Chair since November 2021.

Brynja Björk received her PhD in neuropsychology from King’s College London in 2008, a cand.psych. degree in clinical psychology from the University of Iceland in 2009, and a BA in psychology from the same university in 2002. She has held a permanent position at RU since 2014 and has been an associate professor in the Department of Psychology since 2019. Brynja Björk directed the undergraduate psychology program from 2020 to 2024 and served as Acting Chair during the fall semester of 2024.

Brynja Björk has played an active role in the department’s strategic development and in the development of its academic programs. Among other things, she has led the establishment of two new programs: specialist training in clinical neuropsychology and a master’s-level program in well-being studies. Alongside her work at RU, Brynja Björk has worked at Landspítali – The National University Hospital of Iceland, where she is a specialist in clinical neuropsychology and is involved, among other things, in training and supervising clinical neuropsychologists.

Brynja Björk’s research is primarily in the field of clinical neuropsychology and has focused, among other areas, on the cognitive abilities of people with severe mental disorders, cognitive rehabilitation, aging, and burnout. She has also participated in extensive research on the relationship between genetic variation and mental disorders.

Kamilla Rún thanked for excellent collaboration

The selection committee consisted of Dr. Stefan Wendt, Department Chair of the School of Business and Economics; Dr. Þórhildur Halldórsdóttir, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology; and Pétur Maack Þorsteinsson, Chair of the Icelandic Psychological Association.

“I would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this evaluation and appointment process for their valuable contributions.

I would also like to thank Kamilla Rún, the current Chair, for her important and valuable contribution to the department and for the excellent collaboration over the past few years. She will continue in the role of Chair this fall, or until Brynja takes over at the beginning of the new year,” says Dr. Bryndís Björk Ásgeirsdóttir, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Vice President of RU.