About Us

Jake Southerland

President

The President of Leiden United holds three main tasks: (1) delegates and leads the board, (2) represents the association externally, and (3) engage with outside organization such as Beyond Borders, the City of Leiden, and other groups in pursuit of LU’s mission in connecting Dutch and international students.

Howdy, y’all!
My name is Jake Southerland, and I am from the great State of Texas. I am pursuing an MA in International Relations, specializing in the Global Order from a historical perspective. As a Texan, first, then American, I deeply admire the freedoms and traditions that we possess, but with aspirations of working in IR, I saw a place in the EU as my future home. Throughout my many experiences aboard, I have developed a curiosity and passion for learning about different cultures. My role as President has further deepened this understanding as I strive to share my admiration for different cultures with Dutch and international students alike.

Panagiota Bouka

Head of Committees

The Head of Committees oversees and is responsible for the Leiden United Activities Committee (LUAC) and the Alumni Committee (ALUCO). The Head of Committees also is the bridge between the board and the LUAC as well as ALUCO.

My name is Panagiota, and I am currently pursuing my MA in Middle Eastern Studies. Growing up in Greece, a country rich in culture and history, I developed a deep appreciation for diverse traditions. Moving to the Netherlands has only expanded my curiosity and passion for learning about new cultures, people, and cuisines. As someone who loves creating lasting memories with others, I eagerly took on the role of Head of Committees. It’s through these moments that I believe we build the strongest bonds and the best memories.

Arnaud van Haaster

Accessor External

The assessor external is in contact with the five big student associations in Leiden and is
responsible for scheduling the dinners for the foodie membership.
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Hey, I’m Arnaud! As your Assessor External it is my privilege to organise the FOODIE dinners for our members.

Now for a bit about me: Although I have some international roots, I am a born and bred Dutchie who is up his BSc Computer Science & Economics at the Faculty of Science. Also, this year I started a pre-master for physics as well in order to be eligible for the MSc Physics. Alongside my studies I am also a teaching assistant for some courses.
I have lived in the Leiden student bubble for years and have been active throughout at different associations. I pierced through and joined LU in the spring semester of 2024 and had a blast getting to know so many fun and interesting new people. I wanted to participate further and help out aid this wonderful association with my expertise and connections. So, I joined the board for this year!

Mariia Doronina

Secretary, Treasurer

The secretary manages all the promotions, while the treasurer keeps track of monetary transactions and all other finance-related questions.

Hello everyone!
I’m Mariia, a second-year International Studies student. Although I study at The Hague Campus, I fell in love with the Leiden last year, so I’m happy to have an opportunity to spend more time in this beautiful city. Being a part of Leiden United is very exciting for me, as I’ve always dreamed of meeting people of different cultural background. That’s why it’s great pleasure for me to connect with students from all over the world in our student association. This year, I look forward to contributing my organizational skills to Leiden United so we all can make great memories together!