Meet the Board

The board is made up of students from Utrecht University who help keep the club running throughout the year. From organizing lectures, workshops, symposia and social events to managing the website, communication and everything in between, there’s quite a bit that happens behind the scenes.

We all have our own interests within paleontology, but share the same enthusiasm for bringing students together around the subject. Get to know the board members below and find out who is behind the Paleo Club UU.

Current board

Board 2026–2027

Lily A. Hardeveld

President, Secretary

About me:

I am Lily, I am currently an Earth Life and Climate master student and did my bachelors in Biology. I like to combine both fields and merge them into my favorite field: Paleontology! Everything about fossils interrestes me but during my studies I focussed on past ecosystems, microfosssils and Triassic Ostychtyes and Chondrichtyes fossils.

My role:

I am a board member since 2024. I started off as a content manager but since 2025 I function as the president and secretary as well.

Sanne van Herpen

Vice-President, Website Manager

About me:

I am currently a second-year Master's Student, following the Earth Life and Climate Tract. I have a bachelors in Earth Sciences where I devolped a great passion and interest for past life and ecosystems. I am invlolved in the PaleoAngola project, focussing on reconstruction of Mosasaurs and the Angolan Cretaceous Ecosystems. I have a strong emphasis towards science communication and paleo-art as well.

My role:

As Vice President, I am involved in coordinating club activities. I also focus on organizing the Club and thinking of ways to reach broader audience. As the Website Manager, I created the Club's Website you're viewing now!

Ann-Frances J. Cowgill

Treasurer

About me:

Hello! I'm Ann-Frances, a second-year master student within the Earth, Life, and Climate program. I did my bachelors in the United States where I majored in Biology and Geology, with a minor in paleontology. My research specialties include cetaceans, mosasaurs, and other marine tetrapods.

My role:

I have been a general board member since 2025 and since 2026 I am the treasurer of the Paleo Club

Tim R. Versteeg

Content Manager

About me:

Hi! I'm Tim, currently a 3rd year Bachelor's student doing Biology here in Utrecht. My main interests mostly revolve around mesozoic ecosystems, birds and whales!

My role:

I have been a general board member since 2025. Since 2026, I manage the content for the Paleo Club.

Previous boards

Board 2025–2026

Lily A. Hardeveld

President, Secretary, Content Manager

About me:

My role:

I am a board member since 2024. I started off as a content manager but since 2025 I function as the president and secretary as well.

Sanne van Herpen

Vice-President, Website Manager

About me:

My role:

Myrthe J. van der Heide

Treasurer

About me:

Too busy working on my fossils.... Come back later for more!

My role:

During the 2025-2026 academic year, I was one of the treasurers of the Paleo Club.

Ivo R. van der Beek

Treasurer

About me:

I am Ivo, and I am currently doing the master Earth, Life and Climate. I mostly work with Triassic (micro)vertebrates and Late Jurassic microvertebrates from the Morrison Formation.

My role:

I was a general boardmember during the 2024-2025 academic year, and I was one of the treasurers during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Ann-Frances J. Cowgill

Treasurer

About me:

My role:

I have been a general board member since 2025 and since 2026 I am the treasurer of the Paleo Club

Lily A. Taylor

Content Manager

About me:

Hey there! I'm Lily. I initially wanted to study veterinary medicine after finishing my Zoology bachelors in Wales. What I learned during that degree changed my mind towards paleontology in stead. Now I'm a first year Earth, life and Climate master student. My main areas of interest include herpetology, birds, Hadrosaurids, and Carcharodontosaurids. I'm also a traditional/digital artist and love to play video games!

My role:

In the 2025-2026 academic year, I was a general board member & content manager of the club.

Theo Tsaveas

General Board Member

About me:

I am Theo, I studied math at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece and I am now doing my master's on the Earth, Life and Climate programme. My master's thesis was on the spatial and temporal evolution of carbonate plaforms in the Bahamas through the utilization of topological data analysis. I am now working on my guided research project about potential fern spore deformations due to heavy metal uptakes (particularly focusing on mercury and copper).

My role:

In the 2025-2026 academic year, I was a general board member of the club.

Tim R. Versteeg

General Board Member

About me:

Hi! I'm Tim, currently a 3rd year Bachelor's student doing Biology here in Utrecht. My main interests mostly revolve around mesozoic ecosystems, birds and whales!

My role:

I have been a general board member since 2025. Since 2026, I manage the content for the Paleo Club.