Born on 26 June 1965 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Since 1981
Member of the CDU

1984
Abitur (university entrance qualification) in Neuwied

1984
Studied law and political science in Bonn, first state examination in law 1989

1986 to 1989
Student assistant of the press officer of Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker

1989
First state examination in law

1990 to 1991
Legum Magister in Amsterdam, specialising in international commercial law 

1991 to 1994
Preparatory service at the Higher Regional Court of Celle; second state examination in law

1994
Second state examination in law

Since 1994
Lawyer, since 2008 as partner in the law firm Prinzenberg Prien & Partner Rechtsanwälte

2010 to 2018
Member of the State Executive Committee of the CDU in Hamburg

2011 to 2017
Member of the Hamburg Parliament

Since 2017 
Minister of Education, Science and Culture in Schleswig-Holstein

2017 to 2018
Member of the Bundesrat; since then, deputy member of the Bundesrat

Since 2018
Deputy Chair of the CDU in Schleswig-Holstein

2022 to 2025
Member of the State Parliament of Schleswig-Holstein

Since 2022
Deputy Chair of the CDU in Germany

Since 6 May 2025 
Federal Minister for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth