Inauguration of the Valérie Simon de Boissieu lecture theatre

On Wednesday 11 June 2025, the Faculty of Law of the Université Catholique de Lille officially inaugurated a new lecture theatre on its Issy-les-Moulineaux campus, named in tribute to Valérie Simon de Boissieu, former Director of the Issy campus, who passed away in 2019.

Institutional and political figures, including André Santini, Mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux, and Patrick Scauflaire, President-Rector of the Université Catholique de Lille, teaching and administrative staff and members of Valérie Simon de Boissieu’s family were present to celebrate this solemn, symbolic and moving moment, marking recognition of the commitment of the woman who was behind the development and unique spirit of the campus.

Valérie Simon de Boissieu joined the Faculty of Law of the Université Catholique de Lille in 2009 as Head of Studies on the Paris campus, then newly established in La Défense. From the outset, she believed in the potential of this site and played a decisive role in shaping it into a place that was both ambitious and welcoming. In 2013, she oversaw the relocation of the campus to larger premises on Rue Gabriel Péri in Issy-les-Moulineaux, which she directed until 2019.

A humanist vision of education

‘She led this campus with the passion of someone deeply committed to their mission, and did so with kindness, empathy and an innate sense of community’, recalls her brother, Denis Simon, also a member of the Université Catholique de Lille.

Driven by a desire to serve others, Valérie Simon de Boissieu left a lasting impression through her unifying spirit and constant concern for the wellbeing of all: students, academic and administrative staff. ‘She saw teaching as a human journey‘, says her son, Victor de Boissieu, keen to highlight how her personality helped shape the identity of the campus: a human-scale, family-oriented environment in which everyone feels welcomed and supported. ‘She had that rare ability to combine efficiency with lightness, high standards with a sens of humour. She could challenge conventions while still respecting the framework‘, he adds. ‘Valérie is part of the foundation of the Faculty of Law of the Université Catholique de Lille in Issy-les-Moulineaux. Naming a lecture theatre after her is a remarkable tribute to someone who loved her job and was deeply committed to it‘, concludes Denis Simon.

Although Valérie Simon de Boissieu did not live to see the Vaisseau, the new building of the Issy campus opened in September 2024, her spirit will live on. Her name, now associated with a lecture theatre alongside such figures as Robert Badinter and Simone Veil, will forever be inscribed in the walls of the faculty.