A matter of courage

You'd never guess it, sitting across from the thoughtful-looking woman who has just been appointed dean of the School of Business and Economics. But still waters run deep: Mariëlle Heijltjes is also a flying trapeze artist. And one who doesn't shy away from a pelican, straddle whip, backend hocks off or layout. "Well, there's always a safety net," she grins. "The last thing I am is a stuntwoman," Heijltjes says. "But I've learnt over the years that you can learn to manage fear. I was afraid of heights and now I know how to deal with them.