Board members
35th Board of F.C. Sophia
2023-2024 board from left to right:
Koen van de Bovenkamp - Commissioner of Educational Affairs
Maureen Havekes - Commissioner of Internal Affairs
Jesse Timmer - Secretary
Marilyn Kallasse- Chair
Menko Reiding - Treasurer
Jonas Hoekstra - Commissioner of External Affairs
The current board nominates a new candidate board every year during the general members meeting. This candidate board generally gets formed in the board date(s) at the end of the academic year. Ultimately, it is always the members who choose a definitive board. If you have ambitions for a board year or just want to learn more about being on the board, you can get more information on a board date. If you are interested:
Get to know the XXXVth Board of F.C. Sophia
Marilyn Kallasse (President)
What's your name, how old are you, where are you from? What study are you in, and which year?
I am Marilyn, I am 21 and I come from the land people call Estonia. I am in my 3rd year of PPS.
What's your job description? What's your favourite part of your position? What can members message you about?
I am the President of F.C. Sophia. My task is to lead the meetings and have a general overview of the association. I am also responsible for social safety this year. I can be contacted for any general questions or worries, I will probably have an answer!
What's your favourite thing about Sophia?
My favourite thing about Sophia is the community feeling. Everyone is so lovely and it does feel like everyone is part of the association because they genuinely like being there and going to activities!
Kiss, marry, kill with any 3 philosophers?
I will kiss Camus, marry Arendt and brutally kill Kant.
Jesse Timmer (Secretary)
What's your name and how old are you? What study are you in, and which year?
Hi! My name is Jesse. I'm 21 years old, and a second year PPS student.
What's your job description? What can members message you about?
I have taken on the position of Secretary, something that I have been enjoying a lot so far. Some of my responsibilities are the general communications within Sophia, keeping track of member administration (except for the financial stuff, that's Menko's domain and I dare not interfere), taking notes during board meetings and GMA's, and writing the monthly newsletter! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about your membership or if you want to contribute to the newsletter!
What's your favourite thing about Sophia?
When I joined F.C. Sophia last year, the first thing I noticed was how welcoming everyone was, and that I didn't have to try to fit in: I fit in the way that I was naturally. This was what made me love Sophia as much as I do, and what eventually made me want to contribute even more to the association.
If you could invite any philosopher(s) to join Sophia, who would you choose?
If anyone knows of a way to get De Beauvoir and Sartre to join Sophia, please contact me because I reckon they'd be a blast at the monthly drinks.
Menko Reiding (Treasurer)
What's your name, how old are you, where are you from? What study are you in, and which year?
My name is Menko, I’m 19 (a real spring chicken), I’m from Oegstgeest originally (Amsterdam currently, by technicality) and I’m a second year PPS student.
What's your job description? What's your favourite part of your position? What can members message you about?
I am the Treasurer! This entails me keeping track of our finances, setting up budgets, shutting down plans, and killing dreams. And paying for things, of course. That’s my favourite part - making things happen. We can have a million ideas, but soon as they’re booked they’re real, and I’m uniquely privileged to be allowed to do it! Members can always message me to ask about the finances of Sophia (should they so please, although I’d never understand why).
What's your favourite thing about Sophia?
It’s a generic answer, but it has to be the people. The reason I’m in the board is because I feel such a welcoming kinship from Sophians - be it the old guard, or the new blood. Sophia is like a second family to me, and being able to give some of that love back makes me feel incredibly fulfilled. That’s why we organise things, so that we can see our members have a good time. That’s what it’s all about.
Kiss, marry, kill with any 3 philosophers?
Ooooh that’s a tough one. Kiss Schopenhauer, poor guy sounds like he needs some brightness in his life. Marry Judith Butler, cause they’re awesome. Kill Kant. I don’t feel the need to explain why, just kill Kant.
Maureen Havekes (Com. Internal Affairs)
What's your name, how old are you, where are you from? What study are you in, and which year?
Hi, my name is Maureen and I’m 21 years old. I’m from Terwolde, a small village close to Deventer (I really love Deventer). I’m a 3rd year BA Philosophy student and this year a board member for F.C. Sophia.
What's your job description? What's your favourite part of your position? What can members message you about?
I have the position of Commissioner of Internal Affairs, which means that I manage the committees, which means a lot of meetings and hanging out with the lovely active members of F.C. Sophia. The contact I have with the members is therefore also my favourite part about my position. I really love how much fun everyone has organising activities for other members. Sooo… if you want to join a committee, you can contact me! :)
What's your favourite thing about Sophia?
My favourite thing about Sophia is the people (I know that this sounds like a cliché, but it’s the truth). I would never have done a board year if it wasn’t for the amazing people that are part of our association (damn this sounds so cheesy, I’m very much aware of this).
Kiss, marry, kill with any 3 philosophers?
I would marry Noam Chomsky, kiss Simone de Beauvoir and kill Hegel (I really don’t like Hegel’s work and the sentences that never ever ever end).
Jonas Hoekstra (Com. External Affairs)
What's your name, how old are you, where are you from? What study are you in, and which year?
Hey I’m Jonas, just turned 23 and am from Hengelo (Overijssel). I am currently doing the PPS masters.
What's your job description? What's your favourite part of your position? What can members message you about?
I am the Commissioner of External Affairs for F.C. Sophia, which entails that I look out for you guys and get you some silly little contacts and deals. I am also responsible for all contact between F.C. Sophia, other associations and third parties. What I love about my position is making connections with the world outside of the university and seeing how philosophy students can benefit from that. Members can of course always message me if they have an idea that relates to this!
What's your favourite thing about Sophia?
My favourite thing about Sophia is how ‘gezellig’ and chill all the activities always are!
Kiss, marry, kill with any 3 philosophers?
I would kiss Kierkegaard bcz he’s a cutie, marry Spinoza because I adore his philosophy and I think he would be a good husband. Hmmm maybe kill John Rawls because he has also tried to kill me (with boredom).
Koen van de Bovenkamp (Com. Educational Affairs)
What's your name, how old are you, where are you from? What study are you in, and which year?
Koen van de Bovenkamp, 21 years old, Nijmegen, PPS year 2.
What's your job description? What's your favourite part of your position? What can members message you about?
My favourite part about being Commissioner of Educational Affairs is that I made the position up myself, and that has given me freedom to start up new things that I feel are important for Sophia. Members can contact me with questions about educational activities, ideas for new educational ideas, questions about the social safety plan, and basically anything else Sophia related.
What's your favourite thing about Sophia?
My favourite thing about Sophia is the amazing group of people.
Kiss, marry, kill with any 3 philosophers?
Sarte, Butler and Descartes (in that order).