Meet the teams, councils, and support staff who help guide and strengthen LUCAS’s research, teaching, and organisational development.

We value research integrity, diversity, and inclusiveness among LUCAS members of all positions. We believe that this builds a strong foundation for a scholarly community and teaching environment that encourages broad perspectives, stimulates creativity, and facilitates innovative research. We strive to support all members in offering equitable opportunities to develop their career profiles.

Management Team

The Management Team is dedicated to effective, efficient, and supportive leadership of LUCAS. It consists of the Academic Director, Director of Studies and Operational Manager and General Board Member.

Stijn Bussels, our Academic Director, has overarching responsibility for the Institute’s management, the academic quality of employees, and the quality of the doctoral programmes, and research. He represents LUCAS both within and outside the Faculty of Humanities, and promotes internal and external cooperation.

Nina Schat, our Operational Manager, manages the institute’s finances and personnel.

Suzanne Adema, our Director of Studies, coordinates and plans staffing and evaluates LUCAS’s teaching programmes.

Jan van Dijkhuizen, our General Board Member, is in charge of research-related projects: coordinating the Graduate Programme, providing research support to early-career researchers, managing the institute’s strategic branding, and supporting its members in the field of societal impact.

The Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is made up of representatives of our Institute members. Members are appointed by the Dean, on recommendation of the LUCAS Academic Director, for two years.

The council may make proposals and submit its perspective on all matters on which the Academic Director can decide. For certain issues, such as the budget, reorganisation of the Institute, or other policy issues on which a decision must be made, the Academic Director will first consult the Advisory Board. The board and the Management Team usually meet about every three months.

The current Advisory Council members are:

• Antje Wessels (Chair)

• Alisa van de Haar 

• Ilios Willemars 

• Sander Bax 

• Arthur Crucq

• Lieke Smits 

• Kyra Alberts

• Michael Newton

• Tingting Hui 

• Lieske Huits

The External Advisory Council

In order to strengthen ties with academic and social partners and to enter into new collaborations, the institute has now appointed an External Advisory Council. This council is composed of scientific experts and social partners, who advise the LUCAS MT on the research of the institute and its impact and societal relevance.

The members of the External Advisory Council are:

• Prof. dr. Caroline Vout (Professor of Classics University of Cambridge, also Byvanck Chair of Classical Archeology/Art History in Leiden) 
• Prof. dr. Maarten Hoenen (Professor of Philosophy, University of Basel)
• Prof. dr. Greta Olson (Professor of English and American Literary and Cultural Studies at the University of Giessen)
• Dr. Lily Knibbeler (general director of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek) 
• Drs. Wim Weijland (director RMO) 
• Drs. Aliela Netiv (director Heritage Leiden and Surroundings).