Aurora Student Council

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.

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.

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.

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.

Júlia Bonet is a fourth-year Law student at Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). Since her first year, she has been deeply involved in student representation, serving as a member of the URV Student Council, the Faculty of Legal Sciences Council, and as a student representative in both the University Senate and the Governing Council.

She has also been part of the Aurora community for two years as a Student Ambassador, contributing to Task Teams 2.1 and 6.2. Now, she is ready to take a step forward and take on a bigger role within the alliance as a representative in the Aurora Student Council. Júlia is passionate about collaboration, sustainability, and innovation in higher education, and believes that every student voice can make a difference.

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.

Anna Sóley Jónsdóttir is a 24-year-old Bachelor’s student in Art Theory with a minor in Political Science at the University of Iceland. At her home university, she serves as the International Officer of the Student Council (SHÍ), where she focuses mainly on advocacy and support for international students.

Matthias Grafenauer is studying International Business and Economics, as well as Law, at the Universität Innsbruck. During his Erasmus exchange in Bologna, he realised how important it is for students to gain new perspectives from other academic institutions and how enjoyable it is to meet other young people from all over Europe. Therefore, he wants to contribute to our academic network. He has been active in student representation as part of the student council at the University of Innsbruck for several years.

Matthias Thoma is a third-year political science student at the Universität Innsbruck with practical experience in Austrian and international politics. He is committed to strengthening international university cooperation in order to foster sustainable exchange and mutual knowledge transfer within the Aurora alliance. His focus lies on building institutional bridges between research, teaching and student mobility to connect European universities more strategically and accelerate the uptake of innovation.

Anaïs Kaci is a Master’s student in International Negotiations at Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC). As current President of the Student Body at UPEC, she represents over 42,000 students and actively contributes to building inclusive and participatory university governance.

As FOREU4ALL Ambassador for the Aurora Alliance, Anaïs serves as a member of the Aurora Student Council and of the association EvalUE, bringing strong expertise in European affairs, student representation, and higher education policy evaluation. Holding a Bachelor’s in Administration and International Exchanges and completing a second degree in European Fundamental Law, she combines academic knowledge with strategic leadership.

Her vision focuses on strengthening student participation across European university alliances and amplifying the student voice in European higher education. With her international background, she aims to build bridges across cultures and make student representation truly European in both spirit and impact.

Erin Gourves is a MA student at Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC). Previously involved as an Aurora Ambassador, she now aims to strengthen student involvement within the alliance in order to help build an impactful european network. She sees Aurora as a vibrant community to be further developed and connected — a space where collaboration and shared initiatives can truly thrive.

Emelie Schultz is a Swedish MSc student in Economics and Business Administration – People and Business Development at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. She recently graduated with a dual degree in Business Management and Psychology at the University of Oklahoma in the United States. As a Aurora Student Council Representative, Emelie is very excited to be working together with the alliance to enhance Aurora’s mission and amplify student voices.

Mikkel Andreassen studies at Copenhagen Business School and represents CBS in the Aurora Student Council. Alongside his work with Aurora, he plays an active role in CBS Students, the official student union, where he focuses on academic affairs and student advocacy. Mikkel is passionate about empowering students, strengthening international collaboration, and helping bring the Aurora vision to life at the local level.

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.

Katarina Đurčianski is a second-year Master’s student of Psychology at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. She represents her university in the Aurora Student Council, actively contributing to cross-university collaboration, student engagement, and intercultural dialogue within the alliance.

Through the Buddy Programme at her university, she supports incoming international students in adapting to academic life, fostering a welcoming environment and a strong sense of community. Katarina is also a member of the FOREU4ALL network and the European Student Assembly, where she works on strengthening student participation and cooperation across European universities.

Her interests include organizational psychology and human resources, student well-being, and empowerment, with a commitment to creating open, inclusive, and supportive academic environments. Katarina sees the Aurora Alliance as a platform for developing student leadership, expanding international cooperation, and contributing to the future of European higher education through student-driven initiatives.

Sofiia Panasiuk is a 21-year-old Master’s student in Public Administration (Public Policy and Management in Conditions of Hybrid Threats) at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. As the former Head of the University Student Council, she has significant experience in student leadership, policy advocacy, and promoting quality education.

Sofiia is passionate about strengthening student participation in decision-making and developing inclusive, transparent, and resilient educational environments. Within the Aurora Student Council, she aims to connect student voices across Europe, enhance collaboration between institutions, and promote civic responsibility and sustainable leadership. She believes that active student engagement is key to building universities that are adaptable, democratic, and future-oriented.

Serdiuk Anton is an 18-year-old student studying Marketing at the Faculty of Economics of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. He has been working in the Student Council of his university for the second year and currently he is the Head of the University Student Council. Anton has experience in managing processes in student activities, improving the quality of the educational process and protecting students’ rights. He sincerely wants to expand opportunities for students through fruitful cooperation with the Aurora Student Council, forming students into a single force that will move the world towards the best changes.

Hana Ferati is a Dentistry student at the University of Tetovo, passionate about oral health, scientific discovery, and the importance of ethical, patient-centered care. She is committed to developing both her clinical knowledge and interpersonal skills, with the goal of becoming a competent and compassionate dental professional.

As an active and community-minded student, Hana values collaboration, leadership, and inclusivity, qualities that align strongly with the Aurora Student Council’s mission. She believes that student representation plays a vital role in shaping academic and social environments where every voice matters. Through engagement in initiatives that promote academic excellence and cross-cultural exchange, Hana strives to contribute meaningfully to the growth of her university community and beyond.

Sena Avziji is a first-year Medical Student at the University of Tetovo. She is 19 years old but still very passionate about medicine, science, and improving the well-being of others. Sena is dedicated to her studies and she always prioritizes her knowledge. She has been part of many organizations and has travelled to many countries with CBC Loja and Erasmus. She is very excited to be part of the Aurora team too and hopes she can actively contribute with anything she can to help others. She values teamwork, effective communication, and people that have empathy not only for the humans but also for animals and the environment.