Meet the CIVICA Ambassadors 2026/27: 25 students connecting Europe

Leonardo Cervi – Master's in Politics and Policy Analysis

Leonardo is interested in making CIVICA opportunities more visible within the Bocconi community. Having taken part in European Week, he hopes to build on that experience by helping more students discover the opportunities available through the alliance, particularly the Student Engagement Fund.

“The alliance represents a valuable opportunity to connect social sciences students across Europe through meaningful and formative activities such as the European Week.”

Maryam Iviani – Bachelor of Science in International Economics and Management

With roots in Italy and Bosnia, Maryam brings a personal interest in European belonging, cooperation and dialogue. Drawing on her experience in student representation, she hopes to give Bachelor students a stronger voice and encourage more of them to take part in CIVICA activities.

“To me, CIVICA means building a community where our different histories don't divide us, but help us understand one another.”

Csillag Tarnai – MA in Sociology and Social Anthropology

Csillag is interested in bringing together students, academics and policymakers to exchange ideas and explore responses to shared social challenges. She hopes to contribute to research-led dialogue and make complex ideas more accessible through student conferences and CIVICA's communication platforms.

“CIVICA gives students the international outlook and engagement necessary for inspiration and bringing about lasting change through a shared vision.”

Damjan Vezenkoski – BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Returning as a CIVICA Ambassador for a second year, Damjan has already experienced the value of student collaboration through the CareKit Initiative, supported by the Student Engagement Fund. This year, he hopes to continue developing the project while making CIVICA opportunities easier for other students to discover.

 "I also value that CIVICA gives students opportunities to shape the alliance, not only take part in its activities.”

Pius Brohammer – MA in Transnational Governance

Pius is interested in connecting students and early-career researchers across the alliance through discussions of common European challenges. One idea he hopes to explore is a student-led European Solutions Lab, bringing students together to develop practical responses to political, legal and societal issues.

“CIVICA creates such a space and offers a particularly valuable setting by connecting students and early-career researchers.”

Justus Schlösser – MA in Transnational Governance

Justus hopes to broaden CIVICA's reach within the EUI student community and encourage more students to get involved. His interests include the Gen Z protests emerging around the world and the economic research that can help explain them.

“A place of connection and making things possible.”

Marie Palmers – Doctoral Programme in History

A historian and urbanist, Marie values the opportunities European academic cooperation provides to explore different countries, languages and academic traditions. As an Ambassador, she hopes to make CIVICA opportunities more visible to doctoral researchers and encourage more sustainable travel between partner universities.

“At the same time, it gives greater visibility to the humanities and social sciences, two fields close to my heart as a historian and urbanist.”

Eman Atta Maan – Master of Public Policy

Eman is keen to make CIVICA opportunities more accessible to Hertie students and strengthen connections between students with shared interests across the alliance. She hopes to encourage collaboration through informal networking, policy discussions and student-led projects.

“I see CIVICA as a space where curiosity can develop into meaningful connections and collective action.”

Jonathan Rasmusson – Master of International Affairs

Having studied at Stockholm School of Economics and Sciences Po before joining Hertie, Jonathan has experienced the benefits of academic exchange across European universities. He hopes to encourage more Hertie students to get involved, particularly through collaborative projects focused on European security, democratic governance and resilience.

“I see CIVICA as a project to forge a European community of learning and a shared European student identity.”

Bernarda Scharf – Master of Public Policy

Bernarda wants to help more Hertie students discover CIVICA and turn connections across universities into lasting collaborations. She is particularly interested in finding new ways to help students connect around shared interests and make it easier to get involved in the Student Engagement Fund and other alliance activities.

“I believe that some of the best ideas emerge when people with different experiences and perspectives come together.”

Camila Deras – International Relations

For Camila, CIVICA connects two experiences of civic education: studying the values of rights and responsibilities in Honduras and now seeing those principles put into practice through European university cooperation. She hopes to encourage connections between students from different backgrounds and develop initiatives that bring together undergraduate, master's and PhD communities.

“To me, CIVICA is continuity: what began as lessons in a classroom in Honduras, now expands into a global stage where I can live those values and share them with others.”

Gilli Brend Í Hoyvík - Bachelor of Business Administration

Raquel Mariani Fernandez – MSc Political Science (Comparative Politics and Conflict Studies)

Having worked with students from across the alliance through the Future of Europe course, Raquel knows first-hand the value of international collaboration. She hopes to build a stronger CIVICA community at LSE, including through informal gatherings and opportunities for students and PhD researchers to connect and develop project ideas.

“To me, CIVICA represents a modern, transnational approach to education.”

Phuong Linh Nguyen – BSc Economics

Phuong is interested in developing collaborative projects with students from other universities, particularly around trade policy and climate action. 

“For me, CIVICA is where collaboration turns into real solutions through projects.”

Erin Weeks – BSc Sociology

Having taken part in the CIVICA Engage Track, Erin hopes to use her experience to help more LSE students discover opportunities such as joint courses and research networks. 

“To me, CIVICA is an opportunity to create a pan-European community of social scientists.”

Rebeca Evelina Coman – Bachelor of Public Administration

Rebeca has already taken part in several CIVICA activities, including the SustainabiliCITY competition, European Week in Bucharest and the CIVICA Student AI Summit at Sciences Po, where she chaired a committee. As an Ambassador, she hopes to make opportunities more accessible at SNSPA and help students connect with peers and researchers across the alliance.

“CIVICA is a community where students from very different universities work together on real European challenges, and where a student from Bucharest is a contributor, not only a participant.”

Ioana Rad – Master's in Labour Studies

Ioana sees CIVICA as an opportunity to bring together students from different backgrounds and disciplines and ensure young people's voices are heard in decisions that affect their future.

“CIVICA for me is an amazing opportunity for students of various backgrounds and disciplines to come together and work on making the voices of youth matter in serious decisions that impact our own future.”

Santino Bernacchi – Master's in Political Science

Santino is passionate about academic freedom, intellectual pluralism and open debate. He hopes to encourage constructive disagreement and create opportunities for students from different academic and ideological backgrounds to exchange ideas.

“I believe we grow intellectually through the exchange of ideas and the encounter with different perspectives, including those that challenge our own.”

Caroline Kerdiles – Master's in International Security

Returning as a CIVICA Ambassador for a second year, Caroline is keen to build on her experience and help more students at Sciences Po discover the opportunities available through the alliance. 

“More than anything, CIVICA acts as a bridge between students and creates lasting friendships.”

Elio Louati-Gnisci – Bachelor's student

Elio is committed to European cooperation and civic engagement, including through his role as president of a European association on the Menton campus. As an Ambassador, he hopes to raise awareness of the CIVICA Engage Track and organise activities that bring students together around European issues, cultural exchange and shared interests.

“CIVICA means, for me, an opportunity to bring European values to life within and across our universities.”

Anastasiya Kirlitsa – Bachelor's student in Management

Anastasiya sees CIVICA as a way to build meaningful international friendships and collaborations without necessarily having to take part in a long-term exchange. She hopes to make opportunities such as the Student Engagement Fund more accessible to student organisations at SGH and would like to help bring back the Voices of CIVICA podcast.

“For me, CIVICA means internationality.”

Dominika Niedźwiecka – Master's student in Finance and Accounting

Having previously been a CIVICA Ambassador in 2024/25, Dominika returns with experience of the alliance's activities and a strong interest in student engagement. She hopes to encourage more students to get involved, share information about available opportunities and help create a community where students feel their ideas matter.

“To me, CIVICA represents an opportunity to connect people, ideas, and perspectives across borders.”

Hanna Zalech – Bachelor's student

Hanna is keen to promote CIVICA among students at SGH, particularly those in their first year, and encourage participation in international projects and cultural exchanges. She is also interested in using podcasts and other communication activities to share students' perspectives across the alliance.

“As people are the most important for me I would like to meet others, hear their opinions and share them through podcasts.”

Hanna Axson-Hånell – BSc in Business and Economics

Hanna is looking forward to meeting students from across the alliance and contributing to research and educational opportunities. As an Ambassador, she hopes to motivate more students to discover what CIVICA has to offer.

“Getting to make a meaningful impact on research and educational opportunities, meeting new people, and a very unique initiative!”

Oskar Hallensjö – BSc in Business and Economics

Oskar is interested in cross-cultural cooperation and making CIVICA more accessible to students across the alliance. He hopes to contribute to the European Public Policy Conference and sees potential in a CIVICA student magazine that could bring together perspectives and voices from different universities.

“To me, CIVICA embodies the motto of the European Union, namely: United in Diversity.”

Looking ahead

Throughout the 2026/27 academic year, the CIVICA Ambassadors will help share opportunities, connect student communities and bring new ideas to life across the alliance. Their plans range from informal student gatherings and research discussions to policy labs, cultural exchanges and collaborative projects.

Together, they represent the diversity of interests and experiences that make up the CIVICA community. We look forward to following their work and seeing what they achieve over the year.

Looking to get in touch with the CIVICA Ambassadors at your university? Find their contact details here.