Rest in peace, Jan

It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing away of Prof Jan Loisen. Jan died of cardiac arrest on 6 March 2023. He leaves behind his wife, Prof Karen Donders, and his two children. We are deeply affected by the sudden death of Jan, who left a great impression on us all. We cherish all fond memories and strongly sympathise with the family, friends and acquaintances.

Jan joined the Department of Communication Studies in 2001 as teaching assistant. He was a highly dedicated and warm colleague with a heart for his students. After finishing his PhD in 2009 on the Audiovisual Policy of the WTO, under the supervision of Caroline Pauwels, he became assistant professor at the Communication department in 2011. Since then, Jan has been a committed and loyal colleague with a focus on curriculum design, teaching and research. With a passion for research on communication theory, on European and international audiovisual policy, Jan contributed to the scientific field. He guided multiple PhDs in these topics. Highly dedicated in his teaching, he initiated thousands of students in communication studies through his Introduction in Communication Studies.

Jan was instrumental in developing the Erasmus Mundus Master on Digital Communication Leadership with Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Aalborg University and Wageningen University. He guided the department through multiple visitation and evaluation procedures with great success. Without any doubt Jan contributed to the DNA of our department. He will be dearly missed by all.

In this page, you can leave a condolence message or a fond memory of Jan.

Neither flowers nor wreaths. Jan’s family prefers a gift to the Caroline Pauwels Emergency fund for students: BE51 0013 6779 3562 (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, ‘GIFT FO7’).

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Posted messages

After hearing the news, I broke down in tears without knowing why as I haven't seen or spoken to him since my first Introduction to Communication about 5 years ago. I think this shows the impact of his knowledge and empathy towards his students.

I am so sorry for his wife Prof. Karen Donders and his little kids, who will never truly know how great of a man their dad was. I hope there is an afterlife, and I hope you rest in peace, Professor. Thank you for everything.

Professor Jan was a warm presence in the classroom, and always so compassionate towards his students. Gone far too soon, my deepest condolences to his wife and children that have lost such a great person.

Professor Loisen was kind, considerate and compassionate. His energy and commitment to his work and his students was unmatched. I have immense gratitude for all the lesson he taught us and the joyful atmosphere he created in his classrooms. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.

Professor Loisen inspired me to follow Master in Communication studies after he introduced me to Communication studies in my first year of bachelor's. We always enjoyed his classes and I loved how he wants to hear everyone's ideas. In my second year I asked him whether he could send me a recommendation letter, and even If he didn't know me that well, he made the extra effort, went through the papers I submitted for his courses and wrote a very personal letter. I will never forget him.

My deepest condolences.

Karolína

Professor Loisen, you were an exceptional professor. Your dedication to education and your unwavering passion for science were truly inspiring.
Your warm personality and sense of humour made the classroom environment lively and engaging. As your student, I felt fortunate to have classes from you.

Thank you for all the lessons you gave us.

Rest in peace, Professor Loisen.

Jan was een gepassioneerde prof, hij gaf altijd les met een glimlach.
Zijn kinderen waren belangrijk voor hem, hij sprak vaak over zijn kinderen en zijn vrouw tijdens de lessen.
In het eerste semester zei hij nog dat hij wat tijd wou nemen voor zijn kinderen.

Veel sterkte aan de familie.

Rest in peace Jan.

Professor Jan Loisen eased me into the domain of Communications, with his class Introduction to Communication Studies, coming from a different discipline as a Masters student. His way of teaching was interesting, insightful, and engaging. He was always polite and patient, and an expert in his field. My time with him lasted only a semester, but without his teachings, so many concepts would have remained incomprehensible to me. I will be forever grateful for his class.

May he rest in peace. My most sincere condolences to his family.

Prof. Loisen was a wonderful professor, who had introduced me to communication studies in a way that I will never forget. I still remember how he introduced his course by calling it “a Mickey Mouse course” and how he had made a microphone-box to pass around the students who wanted to interact and ask questions.

I am deeply saddened to hear that he passed away, especially since my academic path was surely marked by his teaching and his classes.

My deepest condolences,
Luna

A kind soul and a great teacher who will be missed so deeply. It was an honor to know you. And if there is an afterlife, I hope you are at peace there.

Prof. Loisen was a wonderful and engaged teacher. He was so passionate about teaching, and he cared about his students. It was evident in his respectful and open attitude towards our opinions. He was very kind. Its a huge loss to not be able to learn from again. May he rest in peace.

Prof. Loisen was a wonderful and engaged teacher. He was so passionate about teaching, and he cared about his students. It was evident in his respectful and open attitude towards our opinions. He was very kind. Its a huge loss to not be able to learn from again. May he rest in peace.

Prof. Loisen was a wonderful and engaged teacher. He was so passionate about teaching, and he cared about his students. It was evident in his respectful and open attitude towards our opinions. He was very kind. Its a huge loss to not be able to learn from again. May he rest in peace.

I was so sorry to hear about the fact that one of my favourite professors passed away…. It’s such a great loss not only to his family and his dearest friends, not only to the academia and to the university, not only to his past students, but also to the thousands of future students who will never get the chance to know him unfortunately. I wish I had the chance to tell him one more time what a great professor he was and how much his students loved him.

As a student of communication studies, the first class I took at VUB was Prof Jan's introduction of communication studies. He always gave us interesting examples to explain the obscure theories. He was such a respectful professor. He loved his two kids by mentioning them in the class a lot.

Wish dear Prof. Jan rest in peace and the family the best in the future.

My deepest condolences.
Ke

Woorden schieten tekort voor dit enorme, plotselinge verlies. Moge de steun van vrienden en familie troost bieden en mooie herinneringen het gemis verzachten. Bedankt, Jan, voor alles wat je voor je naasten en de VUB hebt betekend.

We zullen je erg missen Jan. Je warme persoonlijkheid maakte voor velen van de VUB-bunker een thuis.
Heel veel sterkte aan Karen en de kinderen.
Woorden schieten tekort in dit droeve moment.
Fons

Beste Jan, zondagavond in Senegal was je ineens dichtbij met de groeten die je me overmaakte via de twee communicatiestudenten die deelnemen aan de handelsmissie hier in Dakar. Twee dagen later zijn we hier met drie zonder woorden gevallen - wat zal je gemist worden - het was een stille dag hier in Dakar. Ik dank je voor alle samenwerking, collegiale vriendschap (je kookkunsten toen die avond in Berchem waren aan de top, en ik zal de favour nooit meer kunnen terugdoen), en als een echte "institution builder" van en op de VUB. Veel sterkte aan Karen, je kinderen en je naaste familie en vrienden.

I am saddened by the news of Prof. Jan's passing. But also filled with gratitude for the privilege of having been his student.

As a Nigerian stepping into the unfamiliar territory of the Western education system, his book was a beacon of light, the only comprehensive source of knowledge on media that I had ever encountered. But it was only in his classes that I truly began to understand the depth of his passion and the extent of his generosity.

The way he poured out his heart and soul, sharing his wealth of knowledge with us was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The care and attention he provided to each and every student gave us hope, and made us believe in ourselves and our ability to achieve greatness.

His electrifying energy was contagious, holding us spellbound, eager to learn and grow under his tutelage. He challenged us, pushed us beyond our limits, and inspired us to be the best versions of ourselves.

Though he may be gone from this earthly plane, his memory lives on in the hearts and minds of all who were lucky enough to have crossed paths with him. We will never forget his kindness, his wisdom, his unwavering dedication to his students.

Thank you, Professor Jan, for everything. You will be sorely missed, but your impact on our lives will endure forever.

Professor Loisen was a deeply respected man with a passion for his course and great love for his family.

It was an honor to be in his classes. My thoughts are with his friends and family!

Professor Loisen was a deeply respected man with a passion for his course and great love for his family.

It was an honor to be