Emma Cohen de Lara, PhD, is assistant professor in political theory at Amsterdam University College, which is the liberal arts and sciences college of the University of Amsterdam and the VU University Amsterdam. Emma holds master degrees in political science from the University of Leiden and the London School of Economics and a doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. She taught at the University of Vermont and the VU University Amsterdam before coming to Amsterdam University College. Her educational career has familiarized her with both European and American models of higher education. At Amsterdam University College she is a dedicated teacher of political theory and philosophy courses. She has published extensively in the field of ancient political theory and is extending her research interest to the development of liberal arts and sciences education. Her specific interest concerns the role of Bildung or character development in higher education.
Ms Hanke Drop, MA studied physical therapy and Arabic & Islamic studies. She made a career in Dutch higher education, both in the field of teaching liberal arts values to students of educational leadership studies, as well as in the field of Arts education & research. She is preparing a PhD thesis together with her co-author in this edited volume, Iko Doeland, MA, about the impact of the embodied cognition paradigm for pupils’ and students’ learning processes, especially in relation to students of craftsmanship and the liberal arts.