26 October 2023

On 1 September 2023, a new Faculty Council was formed. The role of the Faculty Council is to represent the student and staff communities to the Faculty Board so that your concerns can be heard, and for that reason we are committed to increasing our visibility.

First of all, let us introduce ourselves.

Merlijn Veltman

Merlijn Veltman is a PhD Candidate in World Archaeology, and the Chair of the Faculty Council. He also holds the HR/Governance portfolio, together with Tristan Hoekema, and the PhD/PostDoc Affairs portfolio, together with Maia Casna. He is invested in creating an equal, safe and just Faculty for all. 

Jesse Kuijt

The vice chair position of the Faculty Council is held by Jesse Kuijt, a research master student focussing on human evolution. As the holder of the financial portfolio, he is mainly responsible for inspecting the budget and budget reports. Additionally, he desires to strengthen the communication between the community and the council. 

Letty ten Harkel

The Secretary of the Faculty Council is Letty ten Harkel, Assistant Professor in Roman and Post-Roman Archaeology. Together with Sonia, she holds the Education portfolio, focusing primarily on postgraduate (MA / RMA) and staff aspects. Particular issues she will focus on include quality of education, work-life balance, safety, diversity and inclusivity. 

Sonia Leffel

Sonia Leffel (they/them) is a Bachelor member of the Faculty Council, focusing on Jewish Archaeology. Together with Letty, they hold the education portfolio for the council centred on the Undergraduates as well as student safety and communication from the student end.

Maia Casna

Maia Casna is a Bioarchaeology PhD student. She is deeply committed to fostering inclusivity in research and education. Joining the Faculty Council, her focus lies in promoting equitable opportunities for PhDs and post-docs. She is committed to work towards policies that empower all staff members, regardless of gender, disability, sexual orientation, race, or background. Her mission is to foster a safe, diverse, and thriving research community.

Tristan Hoekema

Tristan Hoekema is a Bachelor student in World Archaeology. This year, he is working with Merlijn on the portfolio HR/Governance, and with the other student Council members on Communication. Tristan’s main goal this year is to increase students’ involvement in and control over the Faculty, particularly among international students.

Contact us!

If you have any questions or concerns, you can talk to us in person or contact us by email at faculteitsraad@arch.leidenuniv.nl. You are also welcome to attend our public pre-consultation meetings in the Corrie Bakels room as an audience member. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 13 December from 12 - 2 pm. Minutes of the meetings, now in Dutch and English, can be found on the Faculty Council website.

We hope to see you there, and don't forget to follow us on instagram at faculteitsraadfda!