Meet your Student, Career, and Alumni Services Team at Maastricht School of Management
Get to know MSM's Student, Career, and Alumni Services Team, the main point of contact for any personal support before, during, or after your studies.
Meet Hermina, Denise, Nicky, and Andreea!
They are the dedicated team behind Student Services, Career Services, and Alumni Services at MSM. From the moment you decide to join MSM, they’ll be working hard for you; both behind the scenes and face-to-face.
Wondering who is involved in organizing the Introduction Weeks? That’s them. All the Career and Personal Development Track workshops throughout the year? Also them. And those inspiring student-alumni networking events? You guessed it; this team makes it happen!
Curious to know what each team member does? Keep reading to find out!
Let's meet: Hermina Kooyman
Hello! My name is Hermina and I am in charge of the Enrollment Team at MSM. When I arrived at MSM, more than 10 years ago, the department consisted of three people, including Denise and myself. I oversee our various sub-teams (our recruitment team and admissions team), by strategizing which markets we should be recruiting in, reviewing the admission and scholarship requirements, as well as all the applicants every year, creating and offering career services workshops and events, helping with the alumni strategy, and representing the non-academic side of MSM during various board meetings. It's a lot but I have an amazing team, and I love the variety of the position, so I come to work every day with a smile on my face.
How do you like to spend your free time?
During my free time, I play hockey and padel, and I also train for at least 1x triathlon per year (to keep me fit, motivated...and humble). I have an 11-year old son whose mission in life seems to be to fill my life so completely when I'm not working or doing sport, and we like to bake together on weekends, or watch Naruto. We also have two furry fluffball kittens at home, who seem to know exactly when I finally want to flop down on the couch and do nothing, since that's when they want to start playing.
I also love traveling, discovering new cultures, seeing new places, and meeting new people. I am very fortunate that for my work, I am often off to a new destination (as part of recruitment scouting). So far, I have stayed in more than 52 countries and seen 6 of the 7 wonders of the world! :-)
What's a fun fact about you?
I am very good at fixing staplers! In the past, whenever there was one that broke at the office, my colleagues would always bring the stapler to me to fix it. I was called... “the Stapler Whisperer”. Unfortunately, it is a lost art now, and my services are rarely needed nowadays.
Another, maybe more relevant, fun fact is that I'm from Cape Town (South Africa) but living in Belgium (the French-speaking part) and working in the Netherlands. That means that with my family I speak English and Afrikaans, with my husband I speak French, and at work I speak Dutch. It can sometimes get very confusing in my brain!
Favourite quote?
One of my favourite phrases I learned as an exchange student in Belgium many years ago: "It's not better or worse, it's just different". Since it has helped me so much, living abroad and travelling so much. A close 2nd is from my personal hero, Nelson Mandela: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world".
Let's meet: Nicky De Bie
I’m Nicky, and at the time of publishing this blog, I’m in my early thirties. I joined MSM in 2019 and am the MSM Student Counselor and Student and Alumni Officer. That means I’m here for our students from A to Z: the moment they officially become part of the MSM community and support them throughout their MSM journey (and even after!).
I co-organize the Introduction Weeks, coordinate the Career and Personal Development Track, and manage a wide range of student-focused activities throughout the academic year. Most importantly, I’m here to offer support whenever it’s needed; whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, culture shock, or just need someone to talk to.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love gaming with my husband, it's one of our favourite ways to relax and connect. Some recent favourites include Roadside Research, KeyWe, and Farm Together 2. When we’re with friends, you’ll often find us in friendly battles over Mario Kart or Mario Party, or sitting around the table playing Uno No Mercy, Skull, or Exploding Kittens.
Outside of gaming, I love snuggling up with our two rescue cats, Kira and Nala, sweet sisters we adopted from our local animal shelter, while watching a new series or documentary. It’s the perfect way to recharge.
What's a fun fact about you?
I’m a lifelong book lover! By the time I was 10, I devoured at least 10 books a month. I read so much that we had to switch to a different library because I’d gone through nearly all the books in our small-town one. After a slight break during my bachelors and start of my career, I've happily rekindled the habit over the past five years, but as I am currently writing my master's thesis, most of my reading focuses on journal articles. But I still try to read about 50 books a year!
Favourite quote?
"No rain, no flowers"; difficulties and negative experiences are part of life but they are part of the journey. They lead to growth and beautiful moments, and are necessary to see the beauty in life!
Let's meet: Denise Dupont
Hi! My name is Denise Dupont, and I work as the Student and Alumni Officer. I have been part of MSM for more than ten years, which means I’ve seen the school and our team grow and evolve quite a bit over time. Today we work closely together to support students during their time at MSM and stay connected with them long after graduation as alumni.
A big part of job focuses on staying connected with our global alumni community and creating opportunities for alumni to remain involved with MSM. This includes organizing networking opportunities and events where students and alumni can meet and learn from each other. I am also involved in several student-related initiatives, such as housing support and welcome activities.
What I enjoy most about this role is seeing the full journey of our students. Along the way, there are moments where students wonder what they got themselves into. But then you see them push through, graduate, and build successful careers around the world. Seeing our students proud of what they achieved is really what makes my work meaningful.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Recently my free time has changed quite a bit because I just had a baby, so life is currently a mix of family life, work, and finishing my MBA thesis at MSM (I’m happy to say I passed all my courses!). When I do get some time for myself, I enjoy meeting friends, going out for drinks, or having a good night out. I also like doing Pilates and yoga to stay active. I enjoy walking as well, especially exploring cities and just strolling around rather than long nature hikes. And if there are cats involved somewhere along the way, that’s always a bonus, I absolutely love them.
Favourite quote?
I’m actually not much of a quote person. My general philosophy is more along the lines of: "it is what it is". Sometimes you just have to deal with things as they come and make the best of them.
Let's meet: Andreea Badea
At MSM, I’m the Career Development & Student Engagement Officer. I’m usually behind the scenes making sure our Career and Personal Development Track (CPDT) runs smoothly. What I love most? It’s definitely the moment a student feels empowered and realizes they have exactly what it takes to succeed. Seeing that spark of confidence is the best part of my day.
How do you like to spend your free time?
If you can’t find me at my desk, I’m probably at a cozy terrace in Maastricht. I am a total coffee lover. I’ll never say no to a coffee at a nice cafeteria! At home, I’m usually hanging out with my cat, Lulu; she’s incredibly sweet and always ready for a cuddle. I also love to bake, especially trying out traditional Romanian recipes to keep a taste of home with me. To stay balanced, I practice yoga, which helps me clear my head. And a little secret? I’m an animal lover at heart. Going to a local farm or the zoo just to see the animals always brings me so much joy.
What's a fun fact about you?
I actually had a very artistic and busy childhood! I did professional ballet and dancing for years, which kept me constantly on the move. A big highlight from back then is that I acted in a movie alongside one of the most famous actresses in Romania, she actually coordinated me during the filming! I was a very active, "theatrical" kid, and I think that creative energy and discipline from the stage is still with me today in how I approach my work and life at MSM.
Favourite quote?
My mom always used to say to me in Romanian: "Ce e al tău e pus de o parte" which means "What is meant for you is set aside for you." I carry this with me because it reminds me that with the right effort, the right opportunities will always find their way to you.
They Are Here to Help
The Student Services team is there for you from A to Z: practical tips before arriving in the Netherlands, support throughout your education journey at MSM, and an open invitation to always reach out and stay in contact as an alumni. If you're a prospective student wondering what our MSM team can do for you, your health needs, career, or more, or an alumni wanting to stay in touch, check out our resources below:
- For prospective students here
- For current students here
- For MSM Alumni here
- For Career Services here
- See our student experiences here
See also more information on our programmes:
