Alar Karis

About

Alar Karis (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈɑlɑr ˈkɑris]; born 26 March 1958) is the sixth president of Estonia, having taken office on 11 October 2021. He previously worked as molecular geneticist, developmental biologist, and Estonian civil servant.

== Prior to presidency ==
Karis was born in Tartu on 26 March 1958. He was raised there by his mother and grandmother after his parents divorced in 1960.
In 1981, he graduated from the Estonian Agricultural Academy (now renamed Estonian University of Life Sciences) in Tartu. In 1987, he received the degree of Candidate of Veterinary Sciences from the Academy of Sciences of the Byelorussian SSR in Minsk. In 1999, he became a professor at the University of Tartu.
Karis served as rector of the Estonian University of Life Sciences from 2003 to 2007, as rector of the University of Tartu from 2007 to 2012, as the Auditor General of Estonia from 2013 to 2018, and as director of the Estonian National Museum from 2018 to 2021.

== President of Estonia (2021-present) ==

In August 2021, he was approached by the speaker of the parliament (Riigikogu) Jüri Ratas with a prospect of nomination for the position of the president of Estonia in the upcoming election…