8 October 2025

On 1 September 2025, a new Faculty Council was formed. The role of the Faculty Council is to represent the student and staff communities to the Faculty Board so that your concerns can be heard, and for that reason we are committed to increasing our visibility.

First of all, let us introduce ourselves.

Marie Soressi

Role: Professor and Chair of the Faculty Council

I joined the Faculty Council because it is the elected body within our faculty that truly represents both staff and students. As chair, I aim to serve as a bridge — connecting staff, the council, and the faculty board; fostering open communication between staff and students; and encouraging collaborative work that supports both the faculty board and our academic community.

Lucas Pascarelli

Role: Student and Secretary of the Faculty Council

I decided to join the Faculty Council this year because throughout the last 4 years of being a student here at the Faculty of Archaeology, I feel that now I can use the experiences I've gathered here to help create a better connection between the Faculty and its community.

I hope that I can also use this to help shape how the Faculty will function for the next generations of students, and to make sure they feel just as at home here as I have.

Sarah Schrader

Role: Associate Professor and Member of the Faculty Council

I joined the faculty council because I believe it's important that voices both students and staff are heard in shaping the future of faculty. I want to contribute to strengthening the dialogue between different groups, ensure the decisions are made with transparency and inclusivity, and promote an environment of social safety, equity, and diversity.

My main goals are to: 

1. Improve communication between the council and the wider faculty communities, so that decisions and discussions are representative
2.  Think outside-of-the-box in terms of new initiatives that make our faculty a more equitable and inclusive environment
3. Work on policies and initiatives that address well-being and work/life balance for both students and staff

Elliott Steixner

Role: Student and Member of the Faculty Council

I decided to join the Faculty Council this year because I am passionate about the importance of student and staff opinions in decisions made concerning the workings of the faculty. This year, I want to focus especially on matters concerning education and on actively supporting diversity within the faculty. 

Foteini Tsigoni

Role: RMSc student and Vice-Chair of the Faculty Council

I am a Research Master student in Digital Archaeology specializing in representation and reconstruction of contested heritage. With the context of last year events, the Faculty stands in the crossroads; On one hand, we are confronting the need for deep cultural change — to build a community rooted in transparency, safety, equality, and respect. On the other, we face financial uncertainty following national cuts to academic funding. 

As a student representative, my goals for this year are to:

1. Demand transparency in both finances and research practices. Students deserve to know how funding changes affect their education, fieldwork access, and supervision.

2. Strengthen student voice in faculty decisions. We must be active partners — not passive recipients — in shaping the future of the faculty.

3. Guarantee fair and safe access to fieldwork opportunities. No one’s participation should depend on personal financial means or tolerance for unsafe conditions.

4. Promote a culture of care, accountability, and inclusion. As we rebuild trust after past misconduct, we must also build resilience to withstand external pressures.

Change takes investment — of time, of resources, and of collective will. Even in times of scarcity, our values must remain abundant. I will work to ensure that every student’s voice is heard, every project is accountable, and every step we take honors the integrity of archaeology as a discipline and as a community.

I encourage you to either communicate with our faculty council email for any complaints or ideas that can benefit the better function of the Faculty as a whole. If you wish to express them privately to any member of the council you feel more comfortable, please do so, we are open to hear your comments. I am also happy to receive an email (f.tsigoni@umail.leidenuniv.nl) or a message from you to talk about anything you might wish.

Rachael Hall

Role: PhD candidate and Vice-Chair of the Faculty Council

I was inspired to join the Faculty Council after seeing how the dedication of my colleagues in previous years led to meaningful improvements within our faculty. I hope to continue that momentum by underscoring the Council’s vital role as the consultative body that represents the voices of staff and students in our community. I aim to encourage an open dialogue, and wish to see stronger collaborations to enact positive change.

Contact us!

If you have any questions or concerns, you can talk to us in person or contact us by email at faculteitsraad@arch.leidenuniv.nl. You are also welcome to attend our public pre-consultation meetings in the Corrie Bakels room as an audience member. Minutes of the meetings can be found on the Faculty Council website.

We hope to see you there, and don't forget to follow us on instagram at faculteitsraadfda!