Archives: Boards

Simona Gibalová is fourth year General Medicine student at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. As current President of the Aurora Student Council (ASC), she will leverage on her extensive experience as former Aurora Student Representative in the ASC. From collaboration on creating the Aurora Students’ Rights Charter to representing Aurora in the European Student Union, she will bring a unique perspective from an Aurora Associate Partner university to the ASC board for the first time. Simona’s vision for this year involves deepening student collaboration on a local and European level, improving the Aurora Student Ambassador programme and bringing forward the needs of students from associate partner universities. She believes that the ASC is a unique opportunity for every student involved to gain new, outside-of-classroom knowledge, share good practices and gain growth on both personal and professional levels.

Kristýna Raimerová is MA Student at Palacký University Olomouc and Secretary General of the Aurora Student Council (ASC). She will be responsible for ensuring that the ASC functions smoothly and efficiently, through a strong focus on organisation, documentation, and internal coordination. Known for her detail-oriented approach and reliability, Kristýna plays a key role in maintaining accurate records, managing Council schedules, and keeping members updated with the latest developments and decisions affecting the Council and the wider Aurora network. Committed to transparency and effective communication, the Secretary General ensures that the Council’s work is well-documented and accessible to both its members and the broader student community.

Benedetta Toledo is PhD Candidate at Università Federico II of Naples. As Communications Officer for the Aurora Student Council (ASC), she will be responsible for promoting the work and initiatives of the ASC across various platforms. Her past experiences as UX & UI Designer and Social Media Manager, helps ensure that students from across Europe stay informed, connected, and engaged. She believes the ASC is an open space for meaningful dialogue, mutual learning, and personal growth. Her role also involves increasing awareness of Aurora, and encouraging more students to be involved in the diverse opportunities it offers. In doing so, the Council continues to promote an inclusive and dynamic environment where student voices are empowered and valued.

Eliška Karasová is MA student at Palacký University Olomouc. Currently the Vice-President of the Aurora Student Council (ASC), she will focus on ensuring smooth collaboration and communication across the ASC. Passionate about a new Student Ambassador model that values quality over quantity, she is dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for students of all universities within Aurora. She deeply appreciates the system that has already been established and aims to ensure that every university has the chance to fully engage and benefit from all that Aurora has to offer its students. To her, the ASC is a one-of-a-kind space to experience and celebrate cultural diversity.

Radina Karamfilova is a third year bachelor student at the South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, Bulgaria. She has been a representative in Aurora for two years now. She’s currently studying and focusing on Visual Arts combined with Pedagogy. She believes that in details we find the way to success. Working practices with children and the process of creating had her exploring how both can be a bridge for connecting with others. Her perspective on education was shaped by past volunteer work with an organisation that supported children in need – an experience that taught her how art and empathy can shift the way we see the world. Alongside her studies, she explored marketing as a way to understand how ideas travel and how to use that perspective to help student initiatives gain visibility, connect with more peers, and most importantly- to strengthen our community.

Alexandra Valsan is Law student at Universitat Rovira i Virgili and serves as Human Resources Officer on the Aurora Student Council (ASC) Board. She brings a people-centered approach to her role through her strong interest in inclusion, team dynamics, and internal cohesion. In the past, Alexandra was involved in student engagement activities at her home university. She now looks forward to contributing to the ASC’s internal development and support structures. Her priorities include: ensuring a smooth onboarding process for new members, promoting transparent and effective communication within the Council, and creating a safe and welcoming environment where every student feels empowered to contribute. Alexandra also aims to strengthen the sense of belonging among ASC members through well-being initiatives and team-building efforts.

Gabriel Vernacchia is a PhD Candidate in Philosophy at the Università Federico II of Naples, specialising in History of Political Thought. Visiting Research Student at The London School of Economics and Political Science (Department of Government) and, previously, at Université Grenoble Alpes (Department of Philosophy). He has been part of the Aurora Student Council since June 2024.