ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association Board

According to the open, encouraging and genuine nature of the Fulbright Finland alumni network, the Association’s board is always receptive to new ideas as well as new members to participate. We don’t want to be fixated on the past. We want to hear of you and novel ideas.

The Association operates with a 4-10 person board elected from the members and in cooperation with the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki.

Current Board Members

Magnus Backström - Chair

Founder
MBACCESS OY
Finnish Fulbright Graduate Student 1981-82

Maija Urponen - Vice Chair

CEO, Researcher
Kaupunkitutkimus TA - Urban Research TA
ASLA-Fulbright Mid-Career Professional Development Grant 2021-22

Laura Andersson

Master's student in Environmental Policy
University of Eastern Finland
Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders from Europe on Civic Engagement 2021-22

Meg Jones

Assistant Professor of Education
Champlain College, VT
Fulbright U.S. Student Program 2021-22

Antti Makkonen

Senior Specialist, Banking & Finance Legislation
Finnish Ministry of Finance, Financial Markets Department
ASLA-Fulbright Graduate Grant 2014-15

Laura Niemeläinen

Finnish as a Second Language Teacher and Co-Teacher
Turku Vocational School
Fulbright Finnish Language and Culture Teaching Assistant Program 2022-23

Heikki Saxén

Bioethics Researcher, Ph.D.,
Tampere University; Chairman of the Board at the Finnish Institute of Bioethics
ASLA-Fulbright Pre-Doctoral Research Fellows 2014-15
Fulbright Finland Travel Grant for Research Collaboration 2018-19

Mila Seppälä

Doctoral Researcher in North American Studies and Political Science
University of Turku
ASLA-Fulbright Pre-Doctoral Research Fellows grantee 2021-22

ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association Board 2022

Inari Ahokas (Chair), Heikki Saxén (Vice-Chair), Antti Makkonen, Meg Jones, and Magnus Backström

ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association Board 2021

Inari Ahokas (Chair), Magnus Backström (Vice-Chair), Antti Makkonen, Sohvi Huikuri, and Heikki Saxén

ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association Board 2020

Inari Ahokas (Vice-Chair), Magnus Backström (Chair), Kirsi Cheas, Petra Kuivala, Antti Makkonen, Sohvi Huikuri, and Heikki Saxén

ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association Board 2019

Inari Ahokas, Magnus Backström (Vice-Chair), Kirsi Cheas (Chair), Petra Kuivala, Antti Makkonen, Meri-Katriina Pyhäranta, Heikki Saxén and Miika Vähämaa

ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association Board 2018

Magnus Backström (Vice-Chair), Kirsi Cheas (Chair), Petra Kuivala, Harriet Lonka, Antti Makkonen, Meri-Katriina Pyhäranta, Elisa Repo, Elisa Räsänen and Heikki Saxén

ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association Board 2017

Kirsi Cheas, Anna Kronlund (Chair), Antti Oulasvirta, Elisa Repo, Elisa Räsänen, Heikki Saxén, Arno Tanner (Vice-Chair) and Leasa Weimer

ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association Board 2016

Piia Björn, Mikael Broas, Matti Heinonen, Anna Kronlund (Chair), Antti Makkonen, Elisa Repo, Heikki Saxén, Arno Tanner (Vice-Chair) and Leasa Weimer

ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association Board 2015

Piia Björn, Mikael Broas, Laura Hirvi, Anna Kronlund (Chair), Jari Luomakoski (Vice-Chair), Jennifer von Reis Saari, Arno Tanner, Maria Troberg and Leasa Weimer

ASLA-Fulbright Alumni Association Board 2014

Benjamin Alldritt (Chair), Laura Hirvi (Vice-Chair), Anna Kronlund, Heidi Lehmuskumpu, Jennifer von Reis Saari, Kalle Siljander, Marianna Sydänmaanlakka, Arno Tanner, Riitta-Mari Tulamo and Leasa Weimer