ABOUT
My work is driven by a simple belief: meaningful and lasting change begins by listening to the communities that institutions are intended to serve.
This conviction has shaped every stage of my academic and professional journey.
I began my studies in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies, where I was first drawn to questions of history, memory, and representation. However, I came to feel that there was not enough space, at least within my institution at the time, for the historical accounts of Indigenous peoples and decolonial perspectives.
This realization led me to anthropology, where I discovered the power of ethnography and autoethnography as methods for documenting lived experience, preserving community memory, and amplifying voices that have too often remained unheard. Through this work, I began using academic research as a means of telling Moluccan stories and exploring questions of identity, history, and postcolonialism.
I continued this path with a Master's degree in Cultural and Social Anthropology, specializing in Applied Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam. There, I focused on moving beyond academia by transforming qualitative research into practical policy recommendations capable of supporting real-world change.
Today, as a Pre-PhD and Master's student in Law and Society: Governance and Global Development at Leiden Law School, my work increasingly focuses on the relationship between law, governance, and society.
My aspiration is to contribute to the socio-legal field by supporting justice initiatives centered on Indigenous peoples and minority communities while strengthening the connection between research, public policy, and institutional development.
I believe that changing "the system" is possible when governments, institutions, and organizations genuinely listen to the communities they seek to serve.
Through research, policy development, and strategic advisory work, I hope to contribute to building institutions that are more responsive, more accountable, and ultimately more just.
LEAH LATUMAERISSA
SELECTED
HIGHLIGHTS
2026 CONTRIBUTOR
Postcolonial? Exhibit
Personal Story
House of European History, co-initiative of the European Parliament
2025
GUEST SPEAKER
Hari Pahlawan
Government of the Republic of the South Moluccas in Exile
2023
PANELIST
Global Maluku Women Network
Stichting Molukse Vrouwen Raad
2022–2023
PANELIST
Indigenous
Peoples' Day
Western Michigan University
SELECTED
HONORS
2024–PRESENT
Phi Beta Kappa
Honor Society ΦBK
Inducted Member
2024
Alan Jacobs Award in Cultural Anthropology
Western Michigan
University
2023
Excellence in
Diversity Award
Western Michigan University
2022
Robert F. Maher Scholarship Award
Western Michigan
University
MY PHILOSOPHY
"LATU–MAE–RISSA"
The name
Latumaerissa translates to "Leader Come to War,"
a title historically bestowed upon my ancestor who served as a
raja (king) and
kapitan (war chief).
While rooted in Indigenous history,
I have come to interpret this meaning through an academic and civic lens.
To me, leadership is not defined by conflict.
It is defined by the willingness to engage with complex questions,
confront injustice, and contribute thoughtfully to building a better future.
My work is guided by four principles that shape both my research and professional practice:
I. Scholarship in Service of Society
I believe research should extend beyond the university. Scholarship has the capacity to inform public policy, strengthen institutions, contribute to public dialogue, and support communities facing complex social, legal, and governance challenges.
Knowledge becomes most meaningful when it serves society.
II. Evidence-Informed Governance
Good governance requires more than good intentions;
it requires thoughtful analysis, interdisciplinary perspectives, and evidence-informed decision-making.
Effective policy emerges through careful research, critical reflection, and meaningful engagement with those most affected by public decisions.
III. Human Dignity and Justice
My work is grounded in the belief that governance should ultimately serve people.
Questions of human rights, self-determination, equality, and historical justice are not simply legal or political issues; they are fundamental to building institutions that are accountable, inclusive, and responsive to diverse communities.
IV. Building Future Institutions
Rather than studying the past for its own sake, I seek to understand history as a foundation for shaping better futures.
Whether through research, policy development, or strategic advisory work, I aim to contribute to institutions, ideas, and partnerships that strengthen governance, promote justice, and create lasting positive change for future generations.