Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir

Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir
Silja Bára – Rector of the University of Iceland
Born (1971-04-23) April 23, 1971
Reykjavík, Iceland
TitleRector of the University of Iceland
Academic background
Alma materLewis & Clark College (BA)
University of Southern California (MA)
University College Cork (PhD)
ThesisThe security imaginaries of an unarmed people: popular and elite security discourses in Iceland (2018)
Academic work
DisciplineInternational relations, political science, feminist security studies
InstitutionsUniversity of Iceland
WebsiteUniversity of Iceland profile

Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir (born 23 April 1971) is an Icelandic political scientist and professor of international relations who has served as the rector of the University of Iceland since July 1, 2025. Her research focuses on Icelandic foreign and security policy, Arctic politics, and gender and security studies. She is recognised for her academic leadership, public service, and advocacy on human rights and gender equality as well as her work in the Icelandic Constitutional Assembly.

She was born in Ólafsfjörður, Iceland in 1971. She has a PhD from University College Cork, Ireland.