Ackermans was the son of Rie A.G. Schonk and Anton J.J.M. Ackermans, a high school teacher in Amsterdam.[1] Following his secondary education, Ackermans attended the University of Amsterdam, where he studied mathematics; he graduated under professor N.G. de Bruijn.[2] In 1961 he followed his professor to Eindhoven to work under him again, this time on his Ph.D. (which he was granted in 1964).[2] In the period of 1967–68 he worked at UCLA.[2] He was appointed full professor of mathematics back in Eindhoven in 1972, for the chairs of algebra and functional analysis.[2]
Ackermans became dean of the mathematics department in 1978; he remained as the dean until 1981, when he became conrector of the university. In 1982 he succeeded Professor Hans Erkelens as rector magnificus.[2] This was also the year of the two-phase structural reformation of higher education in The Netherlands (Dutch: Tweefasenstructuur wetenschappelijk onderwijs) and the financial cutback program Division of labor and concentration (Dutch: Taakverdeling en concentratie), which were mandated by the Ministry of Education.[2]
Ackermans completed one term as rector. In 1986 he took the initiative in founding the Institute for Continuing Education (Dutch: Instituut Vervolgopleidingen), of which he became the scientific director. This institute offers two-year, post-graduate technical designer education to graduates of the two-phase programs; the institute was renamed the Stan Ackermans Institute after Ackerman's death in 1995.[2]
