Board of 2018-2019

Chair of the 28th board of CognAC
Chair
Dear all,
My name is Sander Engelberts, 20 years old, and a second year AI Bachelor student. This year, I have the
honour of representing CognAC as the Chair. Originally I am from Bussum, a village between Amsterdam and
Utrecht, but I am happily living in Nijmegen since last year.
Directly during the orientation week I felt very welcomed in CognAC and decided to become more active. I
started with the First Years- and Study Committee, and later joined the Almanac-, Discussion-, and
Monopoly Committee as well. CognAC feels like a loving family to me and within it I found many of my
friends, learned a lot, and enjoyed the great activities. As a board member I want to give all I can
offer so others can also have such a positive experience.
Besides studying and CognAC, I am also a mentor in the first year's mentor program, help organising the
Pink Week of Dito!, and enjoy yoga, walking the Four Days Marches Nijmegen, and racket sports. I also
love having a relaxed evening with friends, dancing and going to the movies.
If you have any questions or remarks, or just want to have a nice talk, feel free to contact me. You can
find me in the Board Room (on Thursdays during the break), at activities, or walking around university.
Of course, you can also always send an email to
chair@svcognac.nl.

Secretary of the 28th board of CognAC
Secretary
Hey everyone!
My name is Pleun Scholten, 22 years old, and I will be CognAC's secretary next year. I was born in
Amstelveen, near Amsterdam, but I always just tell people I'm from Amsterdam, because it sounds cooler.
After high school I went to study chemistry at the University of Amsterdam, which was a bad idea.
Luckily I realized that I made a mistake and chose to study the best study ever: AI, in the best city
ever: Nijmegen.
I joined CognAC at the beginning of the first year, but I didn't become active until the end of the
first year, when I joined the TraC (<3 u TraCies). In my second year, I joined the DAtA, WkC, InC and
the OrC. And now, I'm taking the next step in my CognAC journey, by doing a board year as the secretary.
I'm super excited to start this year, and will love sending you a mail every week and processing your
registrations (spoiler: most of them are done already)! If you have any questions, you can always email
me at secretary@svcognac.nl, or just tap me on the shoulder
whenever you see me in the board room, walking around university or sitting in TK.

Treasurer of the 28th board of CognAC
Treasurer
Hi all!
My name is Francesca Drummer and I am currently the Treasurer of CognAC. I was born in Dresden where I
lived until I graduated high school. Before I moved to Nijmegen to study Artificial Intelligence, I
completed a volunteering year in Italy. Now I am 21 years old and in my 3rd year of AI.
When I started studying I did not know the concept of a study association, because we do not have that
in Germany in such a form. However, that made me even more curious and excited about all the
opportunities CognAC has to offer. So after my initial skepticism I quickly became active in multiple
committees of CognAC. I always appreciated the help CognAC provides for its members of the AI program
and how many diverse events you can attend. I cannot imagine studying without a study association
anymore. Now that I am a member of the board, I want to offer the same great experience and welcoming
atmosphere that I received during the last two years.
Next to my board work I enjoy working as Teaching Assistant for different courses and in my remaining
free time I love to just relax together with friends or be active, as for instance doing sports such as
volleyball or squash.
If you ever have any questions about board stuff, the AI program or just want to share some great ideas
or stories, always feel free to walk up to me at university. There is a high chance you will find me in
the TK or the board room. Otherwise please send me a message on
treasurer@svcognac.nl.

Chief of External Affairs of the 28th board of CognAC
Chief of External Affairs
Hey everyone,
My name is Fien Ockers and I am the Chief of External Affairs of CognAC. At time of writing, I'm 20
years old (my birthday is the 17th of January, feel free to congratulate me ☺) and I am in my
first year of the Neural Computation master track of AI.
I joined CognAC immediately when it was possible in the orientation, but it took me half a year before I
became an active member by joining the Monopoly Committee. After this I saw what a big welcoming family
CognAC is and in my second and third year I joined several committees such as the Symposium Committee,
the Orientation Committee and (best of all) the Paparazzi Committee.
I really enjoy doing other things besides my study, so I can learn new things and develop myself. I am a
member of a theater student association and will hopefully join the dance student association as well.
In my free time I also like to hang out with friends, watch series or cook healthy food.
My tasks as Chief of External Affairs include maintaining contact with companies, searching for new ones
and giving all of our members the opportunity to orient themselves career wise, so they know where they
want to end up after they graduate.
So, if you have anything to ask or share with me regarding companies, or you would like to chat, feel
free to contact me via extern@svcognac.nl, address me in the
hallways or swing by the Board Room on Mondays!

Chief of Internal Affairs of the 28th board of CognAC
Chief of Internal Affairs
Hey you,
My name is Jorrit Geels and I am currently 19 years old. I was born in the one and only capital of
Brabant, Den Bosch, and moved to Nijmegen at the start of my first year. This year, you can refer to me
as Chief of Internal Affairs of CognAC.
During the first day of the orientation week, I was already enchanted by the great atmosphere here in
Nijmegen, and CognAC specifically. I decided to devote a big part of my free time towards organising
activities such as the yearly Cantus and Weekend, designing posters and overall making sure we all have
a great time here. This year I will not be doing all of that, but I will be serving as a hotline for all
of CognAC’s committees at all times. This allows me to help everyone develop new skills or enhance
current ones, which I thoroughly enjoy.
When I’m not doing any of this, I’m either studying or chilling somewhere in Nijmegen; exploring and
making new music, videos and other types of media is what I love most.
Besides being on the board, I am a mentor in the first year's mentor programme. If you would like to
know more about me, how committees work, which committee would be suited for you, whether you’ll have
enough time to be in a committee or anything else, contact me! You can send me an e-mail on
intern@svcognac.nl or you can find me walking around the
university, in the Board Room or in the TK!

Chief of Education of the 28th board of CognAC
Chief of Education
Dear all,
My name is Nick Stracke, I am 22 years old and a third year Bachelor student. I am originally from
Germany but after finishing high school and traveling around Canada for a year, I moved to Nijmegen
right after my introduction week in 2016.
This year, I am honored to not only represent CognAC as the Chief of Education but also being part of
the first international board. In fact, when I started studying, the programme had just switched to
English and also CognAC was in the process of becoming an English study association. Thus, I am very
pleased to be in the first international board of CognAC - only two years after the initial transition
to English!
I started off by joining the external and study committee in my first year. Followed by becoming chair
of the study committee and additionally joining the WebC in my second year. I am looking forward to
applying the knowledge that I gained through my committee work and further improve CognAC as a study
association. Furthermore, I stay in close contact with the programme and manage the tutoring network,
the online book exchange, the reviews of elective courses and more. In short, everything education
related.
Besides studying and CognAC, I like to work out and game if I can find the time.
If you have any questions about the programme or need additional help with studying, feel free to
contact me at education@svcognac.nl. I am also always open to
feedback about courses and possible improvements. So, if you would like to have chat, send me a message
or drop by at the board room!
All pictures taken by Wouter Loeve - nicepictures.nl