The XIVth board of Sophia Aeterna (2025-2026) is composed of:

Chair

Miriam Zijlstra

Secretary

Roos van Beusekom

Treasurer
Lieke Duyvesteijn

Assessor
Alex van der Laan

Het bestuur stelt zichzelf hieronder graag aan je voor!

Hello everybody,

I’m Miriam Zijlstra and this year I’ll be the praeses (chair) of Sophia Aeterna. This means that I’ll try to have an oversight of everything that happens within the association. I’m also the first person to contact if anything needs to be dealt with. I’m 19 years old and my hometown is Brielle, but I’m currently living in Leiden, as you can imagine I have a special bond with the Watergeuzen. This year is my second year of the bachelor GLTC. Even though I enjoy studying here, I do have a life outside of university. I love to read, especially translations and retellings of the Iliad and the Odyssey. I’m supposed to be in the USC often, so if this isn’t the case remind me! And I love to go out for drinks (either coffee or grapejuice). So if you want to sip and or spill tea, let me know! 

Love,
Miriam

Hello everybody!

My name is Roos van Beusekom and you will encounter my name a lot this coming year: under all the Sophia emails of course! After all, I will be ab-actis (secretary) of our beautiful association. I will be responsible for those amazing bi-monthly emails and I will be taking minutes for all of our meetings, which makes my writer’s heart beat a little quicker! Yes, you read that right, even in my spare time I’m always hunched over my screen, with my shrimp posture, typing away the hours. Otherwise, I’m reading a good book or binging yet another fun series on my couch in Leiden.

But it’s not all fun and games; the bachelor Classics needs to be finished at some point, and I’ve only just started my second year! So, oftentimes you can find me in the university library hastily preparing my lectures (save the best for last, isn’t it?), but I’m always down for a fun coffee break. If you see me walking through the halls of the Lipsius, or whatever other place you can come up with, with a distant look on my face (sadly also equipped with a so-called resting bitch face), then don’t hesitate to pull my head out of the clouds with a nice talk. I’m looking forward to seeing all of you during the incredibly exciting activities that we will be organising this year!

Lots of love, Roos

Hello lovely readers,

My name is Lieke Duyvesteijn, and I'm going to be quaestor (treasurer) of our dear Sophia Aeterna this coming year. I'm 19 years old, I'm from Brielle and I still live there. I'm starting my second year of the GLTC bachelor, which I'm thoroughly enjoying! Outside of studying, I spend plenty of time on public transport, but I also enjoy reading a book or trying to bake macarons for the umpteenth time (often in vain...). I also love seeing familiar faces, so if you see me strolling through the corridors of Lipsius, running through the train station, or just standing around somewhere, please wave! I'd love to chat! As quaestor, I'm responsible for budgets, projects, and especially for collecting a lot of receipts. When you don't pay your dues, I'm the one who follows up on it. This way, I ensure that all sorts of fun activities can be organized. I'm already looking forward to seeing you all there! 

As quaestor, I'm responsible for budgets, projects, and especially for collecting a lot of receipts. When you don't pay your dues, I'm the one who follows up on it. This way, I ensure that all sorts of fun activities can be organized. I'm already looking forward to seeing you all there!

Love, Lieke

Hiiiii!!!!

I’m Alex, and this year I’m assessor, which famously comes from the word adsedere and thus literally means that I’m the one who sits beside… but in practice it means I’ll be involved with all the committees Sophia has to offer and maintain contact with other associations. Now, a bit about me as a person! I’m from Bozzywood (= Bergen op Zoom) and I’m 19 years old as well. If you ever run into me in the hallways, don’t hesitate to strike up a conversation, because I love to yap!!! That’s also why I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone better at activities.

Mille basia,
Alex