Katja Bär became Director of Communications and Fundraising of the University of Mannheim and official spokesperson of the University’s President in 2011. Her team is responsible for media and public relations, science communication and fundraising. Katja studied history and public law at the Universities of Mannheim, Heidelberg and Cambridge.

Before moving to Mannheim she has been parliamentary leader of the social democratic members of the City Council in Bad Dürkheim for seven years. In 2009 she was given the Helene Weber Award for creating awareness on the consequences of demographic change. She is also a PR trainer and has coached members of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Kosovo and spokespersons of municipalities.