
The CognAC board is actively engaged with the ins and outs of the study association.
This means that they support the committees with the organisation of activities, approach businesses for
guidance in your prospective career, and maintain contact with the academic programme, among other things.
Because CognAC is a small association, the board aims for personal involvement with its members.
The CognAC board contains six potential positions: chair, secretary, treasurer, external officer, internal
officer, and educational officer.
The chair is charged with ensuring that meetings are properly conducted and keeps track of everything in the
association.
The secretary is responsible for correspondence with the programme and other associations, for taking the
minutes during meetings, staying informed of the legal matters related to the association and for acting as
the primary contact person.
The treasurer keeps busy creating a budget, managing the finances, and doing the book keeping.
In turn, the chief of external affairs is responsible for arranging sponsor contracts and visits to
businesses, and keeps the board up to date on the happenings in both umbrella and sister associations.
The chief of internal affairs is concerned with the support of CognAC committees and organises consultations
with the chairs.
Finally, the chief of education is responsible for anything study related, including but not limited to
contact with the programme and degree programme committee, guiding the study, parent's day and symposium
committees.

Chair of the 31th board of CognAC
Chair
Hi everyone!
My name is Yael Raz (she/her) and I am twenty years old. I am currently in my third year of the AI
Bachelor, but I have no plans of finishing any time soon. Some things to know about me: I love cats,
I am originally from Eindhoven (and originally originally from Israel) and oh yeah I am the chair
of the XXXI Board :)
I first became active as a member of the PaparaC and I haven't looked back since! I mostly liked the
people I came into contact with as an active member, I feel like there's no group of people quite like
our CognACcies ;)
I have lived in Nijmegen for almost two years now, but for a long time during the pandemic I was back
home in Eindhoven. I realized how much I missed doing things for the association and I also felt it was
time for some new challenges within CognAC. Doing a board year was something I had wanted for a longer
time and I am so excited to make it happen!
You can always come to me if you have any questions or you just feel like having a chat :) Whether you
contact me in real life, via text or by sending an e-mail to chair@svcognac.nl, I am always up to listen to your feedback about CognAC or how
your day has been!

Secretary of the 31th board of CognAC
Secretary
Hey everyone!
My name is Cis van Aken (he/him), and I will be the Secretary of CognAC this year. The best position in
the board, obviously. I am currently 20 years old, and I grew up in Zevenaar, which is a small city east of
Arnhem, but currently I live in Nijmegen. I still visit my parents every now and again, although they’d tell
you I don’t do it frequently enough.
In my free time, I usually hang out with friends, play video games, or do some sports and sometimes I
also read books. I also really enjoy cooking and mostly experimenting with things I have never made
before, not saying I’m a good cook, just that I like to cook. Despite these hobbies, I mostly end up
watching Netflix or YouTube for hours on end though, which is still fun.
I joined CognAC immediately during my own introduction, over 2 years ago and I joined the DAtA in my
first week. Later in my first year, I also joined the FC, which was a lot of fun as well. In my second year, I
took it a step further, by becoming the chair of DAtA and treasurer of the FC. That still was not enough
for me, so I applied for the board and now here I am.
As secretary, I will answer all your emails (send all your emails to secretary@svcognac.nl), fill your inbox with weekly memes and sometimes
even send you actually useful information. I also take care of all our
member administration, and I take minutes at the board meetings, general members meetings and the
chair meetings. Oh, and I am also in charge of our merchandise. With so much variety, it is hard to not
call it the best function, I am really excited for everything that is coming this year.

Treasurer of the 31th board of CognAC
Treasurer
Heyhoi,
My name is Fenna Rasing (she/her) and I am a third year bachelor student of Artificial Intelligence. I
come from a village in Gelderland, where I still visit my parents, sister and my dog regularly. I have been
living in Nijmegen for a year now and I really love it. During the strict lockdown I wasn’t in Nijmegen very
often but I am now fully enjoying the student life here. I love walking around the city and sitting on the
Waalbeach in nice weather.
The orientation week introduced me to CognAC, and I have been active ever since. First starting of in the
1C, which introduced me to committee work. I was immediately hooked, so after the 1C I joined the WkC
and the SC. Recently I also joined the LC and the XC, which I enjoy very much. This year I have the
honour of being the Treasurer of CognAC, which means I am responsible for the finances, the budget
and the bookkeeping. I have already learned a lot while being in the board, but I am eager to learn even
more.
Next to CognAC and studying you can find me on the dancefloor for ballroom dancing or modern jazz. I
am also a member of phocas, however I am not that active in it because of the busy year.
I hope to see you all on many CognAC activities! And if you have a question or want to chat you can
always contact me at treasurer@svcognac.nl
or text me.

Chief of External Affairs of the 31th board of CognAC
Chief of External Affairs
Hey everyone!
My name is Marlous de Heer (she/her) and this year I am the Chief of External Affairs. I’m 20 years old
and I’m in my third year of the Bachelor now. Being the extern means I am the main contact person for
our partners. I arrange the activities with our partners and the career related activities as well.
I moved to Nijmegen halfway through my first year, a few weeks before corona hit. Before that I lived
with my parents in Nijkerkerveen (which is a small town near Amersfoort (which is a city near Utrecht)). I
chose to study in Nijmegen because I was already a bit familiar with the city and really liked the
atmosphere in the city and on campus. Luckily, AI in Nijmegen also has the best study association!
I wasn’t active in any committees in my first year, but I loved my orientation week and went to quite a few
CognAC activities. At the start of my second year I joined the AC. We had to improvise a lot to organise
fun online activities, but I really enjoyed it! Starting my board year also had me joining more committees,
I’m now in the External Committee, Lustrum Committee and the Symposium Committee. Besides being
in the board of CognAC this year and studying, I like to hang out with friends, try out sports at the sports
center or just watch movies or listen to music.
If you have ideas for new companies to collaborate with, career related events to organise, just want to
have a chat or if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me! You can always come by the
board room, send me a text or email me via extern@svcognac.nl.

Chief of Internal Affairs of the 31th board of CognAC
Chief of Internal Affairs
Hello there!
My name’s Arne Wittgen (he/him), and like the rest of my wonderful board I am a third-year student of
Artificial Intelligence. I’m 21, originally coming from Hamburg, Germany but by now a “Nijmegenaar” at
heart.
This year, I have the honor of serving CognAC as the Chief of Internal Affairs, the next step of my
CognAC “career” after chairing the FC for two years and being a member of the PaparaC (also two
years) and GameCo (one year, back when it was still the LoLCo). Like so many others, I got interested
(read: indoctrinated by my Intro-parents and the Orcies haha) in CognAC during intro week, and didn’t
hesitate to dive in on the deep end as soon as my studies started. I have been enjoying my time with
CognAC since the beginning, and already got curious about “the board life” during my first year – and
now look where I am, two years later!
Besides spending time on studying and CognAC, my interests are about as colorful as my hair: My main
ways of spending free time are playing the piano, reading, cooking, playing computer, board and card
games, having a drink or two (especially gin) with friends, and fencing. As you can see, I’m quite a busy
bee but still somehow manage to make enough time for all the things I have and/or want to do.
As Chief of Internal Affairs, my job is to keep an overview of and organize all our committees, so I’m
naturally in contact with many of our (active) members (and mainly responsible for spamming you in our
announcement group) – if you have any questions about our committees, want to join one or just have
anything else to talk about, feel free to send me a mail at intern@svcognac.nl
or catch me in the board room!

Chief of Education of the 31th board of CognAC
Chief of Education
Hey everyone!
My name is Ishani Udas (she/her) and I am honored to be CognAC’s Chief of Education this year! I am
19 years old and an international student from Abu Dhabi (originally from India) in my third year of the AI
bachelor.
I joined CognAC during my introweek, and became an active member by joining the OrC after the mentor
drink! Unfortunately that was around the time the pandemic hit, and at some point in the lockdown I had
the realization I wanted to do so much more. With that thought, I joined the LC, SymCo, AlmanaC, SC,
PC and InC! I was also an APS-mentor and did Honors last year, and this year I’m a part of the editors’
team of Turning Magazine.
As Chief of Education, I am in charge of all the study-related aspects of our amazing association. This
means I handle the contact with the faculty, the tutoring network, book exchange, am present as an
advisory member in the DPC and guide the edu-centric committees of CognAC! In short, if it’s anything
education related, I’m your go-to person!
In my free time, I enjoy pro-binge watching movies and shows, dancing, hanging out with friends and I
also have a group I play DnD with.
So if you’re ever in need of anything education-related, have a question or just feel like having a chat or
showing me memes, feel free to stop by the board room, send me a text or a mail at
education@svcognac.nl.
All pictures taken by Arne - @manual.override
Previous Boards
Academic year 2020-2021
- Emma Beekman (chair)
- Noa Baijens (secretary)
- Laura Loenen (treasurer)
- Micha Lobbezoo (chief of external affairs)
- Elizardo Laclé (chief of internal affairs)
- Lelia Erscoi (chief of education)
Read more about the 30th board click here.
Academic year 2019-2020
- Evelien van Dijk (chair)
- Maike Berkhof (secretary)
- Kim Bladder (treasurer)
- Aline Boels (chief of external affairs)
- Jamie Aartsen (chief of internal affairs)
- Sven Berberich (chief of education)
Read more about the 29th board click here.
Academic year 2018-2019
- Sander Engelberts (chair)
- Pleun Scholten (secretary)
- Francesca Drummer (treasurer)
- Fien Ockers (chief of external affairs)
- Jorrit Geels (chief of internal affairs)
- Nick Stracke (chief of education)
Read more about the 28th board click here.
Academic year 2017-2018
- Bram van Asseldonk (chair)
- Niels Wolters (secretary)
- Lea Nugteren (treasurer)
- Lennart Geertjes (chief of external affairs)
- Karcie Snoeijen (chief of internal affairs)
- Sanne de Kleijn (chief of education)
Read more about the 27th board click here.
Academic year 2016-2017
- Abdullahi Ali (chair)
- Loes Erven (secretary)
- Esra Bakker (treasurer)
- Lars Bokkers (chief of external affairs)
- Djamari Oetringer (chief of internal affairs)
Academic year 2015-2016
- Jet van Dijk (chair)
- Jeroen Droog (secretary)
- Moira Berens (treasurer)
- Berend van Deelen (chief of external affairs)
- Jesse Zwamborn (chief of internal affairs)
Academic year 2014-2015
- Tanja Crijns (chair)
- Leonieke van den Bulk (secretary)
- Tim Haverkamp (treasurer)
- Thomas van Heyningen (chief of external affairs)
- Emmie Peters (chief of internal affairs)
Academic year 2013-2014
- Inez Wijnands (chair)
- Steven Reitsma (secretary)
- Luc Nies (treasurer)
- Jasper van Dalen (chief of external affairs)
- Margo van der Stam (chief of internal affairs)
Academic year 2012-2013
- Tessa Beinema (chair)
- Jelger Dijkstra (secretary)
- Rick Witlox (treasurer)
- Robert Jansen (chief of external affairs)
- Jasper van der Waa (chief of internal affairs)
Academic year 2011-2012
- Roland Meertens (chair)
- Jelte van Waterschoot (secretary)
- Youetta Kunneman (treasurer)
- Thymen Wabeke (chief of external affairs)
- Merijn Spiro (chief of internal affairs)
Academic year 2010-2011
- Wouter Bulten (chair)
- Lysanne Sloff (secretary)
- Robert-Jan Drenth (treasurer)
- Mirjam de Haas (chief of internal affairs)
Academic year 2009-2010
- Ceci Verbaarschot (chair)
- Rob Klein Hofmeijer (secretary)
- Remco Runge (treasurer)
- Jorn Bunk (chief of internal affairs)
Minutes
Contact secretary@svcognac.nl if you want to receive minutes of the weekly board meeting.