Erika Verbelen is Communication Officer at the African Studies Centre Leiden. She is responsible for organising the ASCL Seminars, featuring guest speakers from all over the world, as well as the Stephen Ellis Annual Lecture. She serves as the primary point of contact for the ASCL Community. Erika holds a BA and MA in Eastern European Languages and Cultures from Ghent University, and an MA in International Relations with a specialisation in Intercultural Communication and Media from Collegium Civitas in Poland. She is fluent in Dutch, English, and Polish, and proficient in Russian and French.