Board 2026-2027 "Semper Ad Meliora"
Jurre Spruijt
Chairman, Vice-Commissioner of External Affairs and Commissioner of Alumni Relations
Hey everyone!
My name is Jurre Spruijt, I am 21 years old and I grew up in a relatively small town slightly south of Rotterdam. Before the start of my Bachelor in Industrial Engineering and Management, I moved to Enschede. This year, I am starting the Master Industrial Engineering, and simultaneously I will be the Chairman of our great association. This means that I will guide my fellow board members in tackling the challenges arising in the daily tasks, while keeping overview of the long-term goals, but also representing the association.
Ever since the Kick-In I really liked the people and environment at Stress, which I experienced through my do-group Toeter, so it was a logical choice to become active during the first module. I started in the External Affairs committee and subsequently organised the lovely Stress Congress during my second year. After that, I have done a few other committees and worked on some nice projects like a network drink and running in the Enschede (partial) Marathon with Stress.
When my weeks allow me some spare time, I really like to go running. I have run a few half-marathons now, and I recently trained for a ‘faster’ 5 km, so I like to challenge myself. :) To alternate sports from time to time, I play basketball occasionally. Every Wednesday, I hang out in de Vluchte with my dispuut MSCS to drink some nice beers and have a chat, while on some other evenings I relax on the couch and play some games with my housemates!
I am excited for the upcoming year, and I am really driven on making it a great year for all members. Though it is unusual for Stress to have a part-time board, I think that with the help of our active members, sharing ideas and picking up projects, it will be a great success. Looking forward to seeing you around at Stress, let’s grab a coffee sometime!
Sebastiaan de Brouwer
Secretary, Vice-Treasurer and Commissioner of SIS
Hi everyone! I’m Sebastiaan and I will serve our wonderful association as secretary. I’m 21 years old and I grew up in Hilversum, near Amsterdam. Two years ago, I started my bachelor Industrial Engineering and Management in Enschede. I was not the first one in my family, as both my father and sister have studied IEM here. So, apparently it runs in the family. Nevertheless, I was also attracted by the beautiful campus surrounded by its green environment and the present sport associations.
My activism at Stress started in my first year in which I joined the SportCie. One of the events we organized I enjoyed the most was the golf clinic. After attending this event, I started taking golf lessons with the result of now having my golf license. This year, I’m part of the KIDS committee, having the beautiful chance to create an unforgettable experience for the new freshmen!
Beside my activism at Stress, I also enjoy playing hockey in Heeren 6 at DHC. Although we may not be the best “performing” team, we are however the most “gezellig” hockey team present at DHC.
I really look forward to the year ahead and meeting you all!
Gershom van der Sluijs
Treasurer, Commissioner of SBZ and Commissioner of IT
Hey lovely members!
My name is Gershom and I am (already) 27 years old, currently working fulltime as a teamlead business control. I hail from the lovely province of Frisia, from a small village called Wommels. During this year I will be your treasurer, meaning I’ll be responsible for the finances of our association.
During my years as a student, I did almost everything a student can do apart from studying. I started out at Business & IT, then switched to IBA. I have been active in KIDS (3x), PilsCie, FoodCie and Bartending. I also organised Summer Sounds for a year, worked as part-time store manager at Coop/Spar on campus and have worked with the Alumni Association Bekader.
During my leisure time I like to go to the gym, hang out with friends, research investing opportunities and play League of Legends (even though I suck at it).
Looking forward to seeing all of you at our events!
Camiel de Jager
Commissioner of Internal Affairs and Commissioner of Public Relations
Hello everyone,
I am Camiel, I'm 20 years old and currently trying to graduate from the IEM bachelor :) I was born in the beautiful city of Dokkum in the high north of the Netherlands. This year I will be responsible for making YOU active, and taking care of the active members.
My activism in Stress started with the Freshman committee, where we organized some great events until I sadly had to leave when i wouldnt get my BSA…. However, even from the north I joined a new committee: The Stress Congress 2025, where I was external together with Jurre. This was a great learning experience and a lot of fun, so after it it was an obvious choice to join the Jan Kreiken committee to organise the first symposium in a long while! Then I joined the Pilscie to ensure that there was enough opportunity for drinks for our members, this is why I wanted to reintroduce the weekly borrel, so I hope to see you there every Thursday at four!
For next year I'm excited to see all the active members grow in their experiences and create wonderful events! I am also very enthusiastic about facilitating and helping with these experiences and am always willing to help! (sadly with some time constraints)
Sarah Burdett
Comissioner of External Affairs, Vice-Commissioner of Internal Affairs and Vice-Commissioner of Educational Affairs
Hi I’m Sarah. I am from Zimbabwe, I was born there and have the passport too, however I was raised all over Southern Africa since my parents loved adventure and moving to new countries every couple of years! I came to the Netherlands in 2022 to study applied mathematics here at the UT, but it wasn’t exactly for me, hence I ended up switching to and completing the IEM bachelors.
I was active in my first year at S.A.Abacus and found it really fun, therefore when I switched to IEM and had great do group parents in Toeter it seemed logical to be active at Stress as well. For the first two years of IEM I was active at both Abacus and Stress but eventually Stress won my heart over and I decided to do a board here!
I grew up in boarding school which I loved, I got to spend a lot of time with my friends and my brothers. Most of my crazy stories stem from these days and living on a farm somewhere in Africa and running wild with my brothers.
Since moving to the Netherlands my life has calmed down alot, and I turned to more ‘grandma’ like hobbies like baking and crocheting. I really love swimming, for fun not for sports anymore, especially in the ocean when there are massive waves. Zimbabweans are obsessed with rugby and I am no exception to that, I love playing touch rugby ( I prefer to play without breaking bones).
I am super excited for this year as external, and getting to know all the members better. I am slightly obsessed with tea. So if you want to have a cup of tea together or just want to have a chat with someone, I am always down!
Siem Jacobs
Commissioner of Educational Affairs, Commissioner of Integration and Cohesion and Commissioner of SIS
He/Him/They/Them
Hello all!
The parts of my name that matter make Siem Jacobs, and all of my friends in Enschede have had the lifelong pleasure of joking about the fact that I grew up in Hengelo instead. After a brief but unsuccessful foray into Physics, I started and have since completed the International Business Administration Bachelor. This year I will combine the best of both worlds, being your Commissioner of Educational Affairs alongside doing the BA Master. This means I bridge the gap between the students and the programme management teams, ensuring your voices are heard and concerns are taken seriously.
Stress had a claim on my heart from the start, as my previous experience with Study Associations showed me just how nice it can be to be in one. Becoming active was only natural at that point, where I was a part of the External Affairs committee (together with Jurre!) for a while, and crucially joined the Education Committee, which I’ve been loyal to ever since. During my second year I was granted the opportunity to sample what I have now become, functioning as a non-board Vice Commissioner of Education, showing me how much I truly enjoyed ensuring quality of education.
My life-outside-of-student-life will be a little less intricate than previous years, but a key hobby for me is Capoeira, which keeps me busy twice a week and has me singing in Portuguese more often than I expected from myself. One of my favourite pastimes is also making ridiculous dishes together with one of my best friends, so come ask me what we made most recently!
Whilst I am well aware the part-time nature of our board year means we won’t be able to spend as much time on things and with members as usual, I have no doubt in our ability to make this year a great one. Through the support of our lovely activists and wise past board members, Stress will move towards improvement, always ;)
