Sara Falcony Palacio (she/her)

My position: Chair
Email: [email protected]
Nationality: Ecuadorian & Dutch
Graduating year: 2027
Major: Law & Political Science

Hi! I’m Sara, chair of the 2025 - 2026 CAR board. As chair, I do all the public speaking, coordinating meetings, and I make sure CAR does what we have to do. Furthermore, my role entails overseeing what has happened with CAR, is happening, and should happen: I keep track of the long-term vision of CAR as we are trying to become a more established student board. Finally, I also keep up with the other members’ personal and CAR goals to ensure progress and alignment with our overall objectives. My two portfolios this year are Housing and Security & Facilities. Housing entails improving the student-housing staff relationship on campus, housing on campus in general, but also helping students find housing off campus! Security & Facilities is all about how to stay safe on campus, who to contact, and providing guides to students (like the Anti-Theft Guide).

Paula Maria Kammerlander

My position: PR Manager

Email: [email protected]
Nationality: Austrian & German
Graduating year: 2027
Major: Political Science & Human Geography (+History)

Hello, I am Paula, and I am CAR's very first PR Manager. Since before, there have always just been 3 positions; I had to figure out my work and how to handle everything myself. This left me with a lot of freedom on how I wanted CAR to look to the outside. I remade the logo, came up with a social media strategy, and learnt how to work with different designing websites. One of my main goals at the beginning of the year was to give CAR a bigger presence on campus and provide it with the attention and importance the board deserves. As CAR is the youngest out of the three student boards, it still has a long way to go until it reaches its full potential. Because this was very fitting with my goals, I chose it, alongside Catering, as my portfolio. In general, I am in charge of all the outward communication to the student body. For example, I handle the monthly newsletters, frequently spam the UCU community on WhatsApp, and document all the events we host and make everything that you see on Instagram. I also established CAR on LinkedIn, got a Canva Subscription, and now created this website. My work is very fun since you can work on whatever you see as important and combine your creativity with other fun aspects of being in the board!

Sophie Marie Ridgeway (she/her)

My position: Secretary
Email: [email protected]
Nationality: German
Graduating year: 2027
Major: Law & Political Science

Hey guys, my name is Sophie Ridgeway, and I am secretary for the CAR board of 25-26 :) My tasks include all internal and external communication as well as the administration of the board. More specifically, this entails that I am in charge of all the emails, meaning that I answer every email that comes in, send out reminders, updates, and am in regular contact with different UCU actors. You can see me as Sara's second hand. Together we have chair-sec meetings, for example. I also take minutes during all the meetings I attend every week, schedule them, and keep track of the CAR calendar. At the beginning of our board year, I decided to take over the Sustainability Portfolio, since I see it as a very important part of our work. This means I am in close contact with the Green Team and work on the sustainable shelf and the compost bins, for example. If you want to know more about my work, check out the Portfolio page.

Esmée Rol (she/her)

My position: Treasurer
Email: [email protected] 

Nationality: Dutch
Graduating year: 2027
Major: ​Biology & Pre-Med

Hi! I'm Esmée, and as the treasurer, I am mainly in charge of the board’s budget. This includes creating a budget plan, keeping track of it, and making sure all our expenses are saved and explained. This year, I have also worked on getting CAR its own bank account! As CAR is an initiative-based Board, I try to combine creative solutions and strategic thinking regarding the financial aspects. The portfolio I am in charge of is the well-being portfolio. Because there are many different actors regarding this topic at UCU, a platform has been created. As I am part of this wellbeing platform, which includes representatives from CAR, UCSC, UCSA, Peer Support, and the Wellbeing Team, we meet up on a regular basis and discuss and plan different initiatives!