The Columbia Club of the Netherlands is a volunteer-run organisation focused on connecting and maintaining a strong alumni network in the Netherlands. Throughout the year we work closely with the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) based in New York and act as a link to campus news and university developments. We encourage our members to take part actively, help organise events and join our board. 

Our current leadership team is:

President - David Dogon

David Dogon graduated from SEAS in 2012 with an MS in Chemical Engineering. David completed his BSc in Cape Town South Africa and is now pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at TU Eindhoven in the Netherlands. He is passionate about both science and art and enjoys sharing ideas around both. This inspires him to organize exciting events on these themes. He also enjoys connecting people with fun and different social occasions. He has organised art viewings, pub quizzes, relaxed borrels and jazz dinners for the Columbia Club and looks forward to much more.

Vice President - Saskia Leinders

Saskia graduated from the University of Amsterdam with a law degree in 2010 and from Sciences Po Paris in 2012, where she obtained a second master's degree in International Affairs. She studied at Columbia Law School in the academic year 2007/2008. Saskia currently works in the international arbitration department of a large Dutch law firm. Prior to this, she has worked at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a public international law and arbitration boutique firm in London, and at several international organisations and other law firms in a number of different countries. In her spare time, she enjoys discovering new countries and cuisines, reading, as well as dancing salsa and forró. Saskia looks forward to further developing the Columbia alumni network in the Netherlands.

Memeber of Board - Alexia Solomou

Alexia Solomou graduated from Columbia Law School in 2010 with an LL.M.  She is currently Associate Legal Officer at the International Court of Justice.  She previously worked at the Lauterpacht Centre for International law at the University of Cambridge. Alexia is passionate about international law, public speaking and helping others. She loves to network and communicate, both orally and in written form. She aims to expand the outreach of the Columbia Club of The Netherlands by using all forms of social media.

Member of the Board - Andrea van der Grinten

Andrea van der Grinten graduated from the GS in 2000 in Art History. Andrea is a seasoned consumer marketing manager with over 10 years marketing experience within FMCG, e-commerce and media in the United States and Europe. She is passionate about film, arts, tennis. Andrea has been an enthusiastic alumni leader for the past years as it reinvigorates her to keep the Columbia connection alive here in the Netherlands. As President she has initiated and organized multiple events for CAA NL and the wider community (speaker-events, social and co-hosted) together with parties such as Museum van Loon, Prinsengrachtconcert, Johh Adam’s institute, US Consul, American Chamber of Commerce, etc. Andrea looks forward to further grow the community and provide an interesting calendar of events. 

Member of the Board - Shariq Kahn

Shariq Kahn graduated with a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelors in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis. Shariq is a seasoned financial services professional with over 17 years of international experience. His work experience includes: credit risk, credit portfolio management, credit research, investment management, loan sales/structuring, project/change management, process implementation, consulting and treasury. Shariq has worked for very well known companies such as ING, ABN Amro, Citigroup, BlackRock and Premark International (Illinois Tool Works). With the Columbia Club, Shariq helps organize novel events with an intellectual focus, inviting interesting speakers.