CCSS General Election Platforms
Written By: Ryan ChungThe CCSS Elections for 2026-2027 have begun! We’re excited to announce that we have 16 candidates running for positions on the Board of Directors.
The Candidates are:
President:
- Aditya "Jacc" Padmakar
Director of Operations:
- Kimia Khorram-Roudi
Director of Finance:
- Adrian Ponce
- Michael Pfaff
- Nolan German
- Omar Dahman
Director of Academics:
- Alvin Kapoor
- Ming Zhou
- Rieley Hunt
- Sarah Adnan
- Sofia Alhennawi
Director of Social:
- Rudraksh Sharma
Director of Industry Initiatives:
- Afaq Virk
- Durvish Joshi (DJ)
Director of Content Creation:
- Harshita Gupta
- Karthi Kanthavel
The Campaign Platforms:
Aditya "Jacc" Padmakar - President
Hey everyone š I’m Jacc, your current Co-Director of Academics and former Director of Publications. I’m running for CCSS President, and here’s what I’m hoping to accomplish during my term:
1. Bigger Focus on Development Opportunities
The problem:The CCSS hasn’t consistently planned initiatives that help students build development skills outside of coursework. We often give students the advice that they need personal projects to stand out, but don’t provide enough structured support to actually help them do that.
If elected, I will:
- Revive Dev Club - regular sessions where students can work on personal or group projects, receive mentorship, and showcase what they’re building (with free snacks!)
- Organize technical workshops covering practical skills relevant to today’s industry but not taught in courses.
Goal:Students go into internship and full-time job searches with stronger portfolios and hands-on development experience.
2. Making Sure CCSS Initiatives Reach Every Student
The problem:Most events only benefit students who can make a specific 1ā2 hour time slot. If you have a class, work, or anything else going on, you miss out entirely.
If elected, I will:
- Set a strong precedent for our new content creation role and use it to reach students who aren’t able to attend our events in person.
- Turn key events and useful information into short videos and posts, and use our platforms to spotlight what Carleton CS students are building and achieving.
Goal:More students benefit from our initiatives regardless of their schedule, and the CCSS becomes something students can actually follow and engage with on their own time.
3. Better Collaboration with Other Clubs
The problem:Clubs often run overlapping events that force students to choose between them. We also now have increased funding through the levy that can be used more strategically to support initiatives that directly benefit CS students.
If elected, I will:
- Work closely with other clubs to coordinate scheduling and co-host events where it makes sense, rather than competing for the same time slots.
- Introduce a formal process for tech clubs to apply for funding to support events that directly benefit CS students, such as those run by the Cybersecurity Club, Game Dev Club, AI Society, and others.
Goal:Students get higher quality events, fewer scheduling conflicts, and more opportunities to meet people across the broader tech community at Carleton.
4. A More Intentional Event Calendar
The problem:Many events are planned last minute or scheduled at the wrong point in the year. For example, running a “how to prep for job applications” presentation after students have already started applying.
If elected, I will:
- Establish a roadmap at the start of the year and plan major initiatives around when they’re actually useful for students.
- Structure the event calendar so it naturally guides students. If we’re running a “Personal Projects 101” workshop in October, that’s your cue to start working on projects.
Goal:Students get the right support at the right time and can be proactive about their academics and careers, not just reactive.
Kimia Khorram-Roudi - Director of Operations
Hello everyone!
My name is Kimia, your current Director of Operations and I am running in hopes of being re-elected as your Director of Operations for the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year. I would be honoured to continue in this role to help further your experience here at Carleton University and with the society while also simultaneously continuing to support the behind-the-scenes here at the Carleton Computer Science Society.
During my time here, I have volunteered with the CCSS at numerous events and also continuously attended meetings and contributed to various discussions and initiatives. I previously ran for Director of Operations last year because I knew I wanted to contribute even more and help others in my program feel more comfortable, supported and welcomed while also supporting and ensuring everything stays on track at the CS society. I believe having a society / club that runs events and services and that also creates content and resources for the student population it represents will truly help make the University experience even better.
If re-elected, I plan to:
1. Continue to support volunteers š¤
I wish to support students by answering any question they may have and ensuring all students have the opportunity to contribute and help out when needed and when they are interested. I will ensure students are given proper and constant support on whatever they do in regards to the society and will be sure to schedule and assign them appropriately depending on what they are interested in and their availability. This would apply to Lounge shifts and operations, Hackathons, major events and smaller scale initiatives and I would ensure volunteers have all the information they need to complete their tasks accordingly.
2. Represent students voices and visions š£ļø
Continuously seek out student feedback and open discussions in order to ensure the wants, needs and concerns of students are met in the society by releasing feedback forms, reaching out to volunteers and promoting appropriate discussion in-person and online.
3. Promote the CCSS Lounge šļø
Located at Herzberg 4135, this is a space that is designed to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for CS and Cybersecurity students to relax, chat and create new relationships and connections. I plan to pursue promoting and supporting lounge initiatives by hosting more events in the room, managing operations and upgrades related to the lounge to elevate the space along with publicly promoting the room more so more people are aware of it and can benefit from it.
I am always open to new ideas and suggestions! If you have any questions, thoughts or concerns please feel free to reach out! I am almost always in the CCSS Lounge and you can also find me in the CCSS Discord Server :)
Adrian Ponce - Director of Finance
Hello everyone! My name is Adrian Ponce. Iām a Computer Science Software Engineering student entering my third year while minoring in Finance. My vision as your Director of Finance is built on three pillars:
1. šStrengthening our societyās financial stability:
A critical window to strengthen our societyās financial future relies on Ontarioās historic $6.4 billion investment in the postsecondary sector, which is stabilizing university budgets and expanding high-demand programs like computer science. As Director of Finance, I will ensure the CCSS is ready to take advantage of this moment by planning strategically, managing our resources responsibly, and advocating for new funding and opportunities our growing community deserves. This is the ideal time for strong leadership to secure additional university support and funding so we can better serve every CCSS member.
2. šRaising new funding that aligns with our society’s core values:
As your Director of Finance, the following strengths of our society will be my priority. They are the experiences that define our society and enrich your time in the program.
Professional Events with Industry Speakers: These events help us understand the jobs of tomorrow and how to prepare for them today by exposing us to:
- Future career paths
- Skills and qualities employers are looking for
- Real-world insights into the tech industry
Community, Networking, and Student Life: Activities like hackathons, game nights, and movie nights are more than just fun. They help you:
- Expand your connections
- Strengthen friendships
- Grow academically, socially, and professionally
My Plan For Creating Funding Opportunities: My strategy is simple - play the numbers game and maximize our reach. I will contact tech companies, especially startups and growing companies seeking talent. I will work with fellow members of CCSS to secure guest speakers, sponsorships, and donations. In exchange, we will offer direct access to a talented pool of students seeking professional opportunities (ie. co-ops). Itās a win-win model that strengthens both our society and your career prospects.
Merchandise: Hoodies, T-Shirts, and More: I will introduce CCSS merchandise so students can proudly represent their program and faculty:
- Students vote on design options ā
- Winning design becomes official merch ā
- Hoodies, t-shirts, and other items can now be purchased ā
- Portion of the profit goes directly back to CCSS š
This creates both community spirit and a sustainable revenue stream to support future events.
3. šEnsuring full transparency in how your money is used:
As Director of Finance, I will ensure complete transparency by:
- Posting weekly budget updates on the CCSS website
- Clearly outlining how funds are allocated
- Ensuring spending aligns with student priorities
You will always know where your money is going.
As we look ahead to a year full of opportunity and possibility, Iām asking for your trust and your vote. Iām ready to work hard, advocate for our needs, and build a stronger financial future for the CCSS that best serves you. Thank you!
Questions? Feel free to reach me at:
š¦āā¬Cmail: joaquinponce@cmail.carleton.ca
š¦āā¬Discord: adrianponce1
Michael Pfaff - Director of Finance
Hey everyone! My name’s Michael and I’m running to be your next Director of Finance.
With this year’s introduction of the levy, we over budget for new costs like insurance. This leaves us with a surplus of funds to act as a buffer that we can maintain year over year, helping to ensure the long term stability of the society. With this year’s costs in mind, going forward, we can allocate more to initiatives that benefit each and every one of you.
Increase funding for events
With increased funding, we can host larger, more exciting events. Additionally, itās no secret that the word “free” could make university students scale mountains. Thatās why every CCSS event offers free food, ranging from snacks and coffee, to pizza, to veggie and fruit platters.
If elected, I will ensure that our budget is revised to better support large events like company networking events and hackathons through increased funding for food, prizes, and whatever else may be required.
Offer funding for other clubs
Computer Science is a wide field, with many clubs catering to particular specializations. Some of these you may recognize include the Carleton Cybersecurity Club, the Carleton Game Development Club, Carleton Blueprint, and the Carleton AI Society. These clubs are extremely valuable to our community, but donāt have access to all the funding opportunities available to the CCSS.
If elected, I will introduce a formal process through which clubs serving Computer Science and Cybersecurity students can apply to receive funding for events and initiatives, enabling them to better support the CS community.
Invest in the lounge
The lounge is a space that has long served our community, providing a space to relax, work, chat, or even just microwave your lunch.
If elected, I will continue to support the lounge through practical investment in the areas that will have the greatest impact on student enjoyment of the space, like better tables and seating. Of course, I will seek feedback on the current space from students, especially those who are regulars around the lounge, to ensure the needs of the community are met.
Release new clothing and other merch
This year, the CCSS has been hard at work trying to release new official merchandise. They are off to a good start having already released a variety of new, student-designed stickers.
If elected, I will work to release new, student-designed, high quality clothing that you can feel proud to wear.
Improve financial transparency
The CCSS receives our funding primarily from you, the students. For that reason, it is crucial that we are transparent with our use of funds so that we may be held accountable. The processes surrounding budgeting and financial transparency have long been janky and inconsistent.
If elected, I will strive to introduce new processes that reduce management overhead and improve transparency. I will implement reasonable deadlines for publishing the budget publicly online after the Fall and Winter general meetings. Additionally, to improve transparency and accountability, I will make available online all historical budgets.
Nolan German - Director of Finance
Hello CCSS! My name is Nolan and I will be running for the Director of Finance for the 2026-27 school year. This year I will be going into my third year of CS with a minor in business. I would like to connect my knowledge of Business and Computer Science to help the CCSS raise and manage money. I plan on working closely with my fellow board members to bring more funding to the CCSS to create more events and opportunities for you!
Here are some of my ideas that I can bring to this role:
šŖ Secure more funding
In order to create more hackathons and opportunities for Computer Science students we need more sponsors. I will find these sponsors by reaching out to as many tech companies, Carleton Alumni and tech startups as I can. While working with board members to be as efficient as possible.
š¦Properly Allocate Money
With last year’s levy, previous sponsors and new sponsors I want to put this money to good use. At the start of my term I will make a budget for the entire school year to make sure no money goes to waste. I will look over previous years spending and budgets to find what we did right and where we could improve. While keeping full transparency and posting the budget with updates each semester.
šListen to your ideas
Through google forms and word of mouth I want to hear what you want to do with your money. With approximately $11,000 of funding from students you deserve a say of where this money goes. I want to set aside a portion of the budget for student and volunteer ideas so we can bring fresh new ideas to the CCSS.
šÆSet Clear Goals
I want to set achievable, ambitious and quantitative goals that will have a big impact on the CCSS. My first goal is to increase funding by at least %20 from last year. My second goal is to host at least 1 more hackathon event per semester.
Thank you for taking the time to read my campaign, I canāt wait to meet more of you and I hope I can count on your vote! Please contact me with any questions or ideas below:
Email: nolangerman@cmail.carleton.ca
Discord: bowlan
Omar Dahman - Director of Finance
Hello!š
My name is Omar, and I am running for your vote for the position of Director of Finance.
Let me start by properly introducing myself, Iām a first year Cybersecurity student with long-standing passions for both technology and finance. My free time consists of me working on my homelab or playing video games with my friends. Iāve started volunteering with the CCSS in the lounge during the Fall of 2025.
In the past, Iāve been on the Finance Committee for Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School where I was tasked with managing procurement requests and tracking over $40,000 in total donations.
My campaign centers on financial transparency, working alongside other colleagues to secure funding for the CCSS and continuing to work on CCSS merchandise.
Financial Transparency
As your Director of Finance, I will release regular financial reports ensuring members are able to see where funds are allocated, spent and earned from. Additionally, and most importantly, I will ensure that the CCSSā financial records remain organized and accessible at all times.
Securing Funding for the CCSS
Alongside the Director of Industry Initiatives and other Executives, I will strive to secure additional funding for the CCSS from industry sponsors and apply for opportunities available to support the CCSS. Additionally, I will manage funding from the CCSS Levy, alongside departmental support.
Releasing CCSS Merchandise
Throughout the 2025-2026 year, the CCSS has made excellent strides in merchandise, including the successful release of stickers from the sticker jam. As Director of Finance, I’m committed to ensuring our merchandise initiatives remain financially sustainable while expanding offerings based on membersā feedback.
I appreciate your support and sincerely thank you for reading my platform. Feel free to say hi or pull me aside for a few questions whenever you see me around campus or reaching out to me via email.
Email: OmarDahman@cmail.carleton.ca
Alvin Kapoor - Director of Academics
You’re trying to avoid falling behind while balancing deadlines and lectures.
Better support is what you need: easily accessible materials, productive study sessions, and someone who pays attention to courses.
I’ve assisted in running review sessions and volunteered with CCSS, so I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t.
Whatās not working for you
- Rather than working with others, you tend to grind alone.
- Some classes seem more difficult than they actually are because there isn’t organized support for them.
- Study resources are scattered across random links, Discords, and old files, so just figuring out where to start is work.
What Iāll fix if you elect me
- Well structured study sessions
- Sessions centered on the specific subjects you claim to be having difficulty with, utilizing test results and feedback.
- Priority on the classes you tell me are difficult at the moment, not just the ones you take every year.
Goal: You don’t just take more notes when you arrive; you leave with a greater sense of confidence in your knowledge.
- One hub for all your resources
- Links to practice questions, previous session slides, and “start here” guides are all in one location.
- Increase the size of current question repositories so that more coursesārather than just one or twoāhave adequate practice banks.
- Make it simple to locate what best suits your exam and course style.
Goal: You know exactly where to start when you sit down to study.
- An easy way to be heard
- An easy way to express what isn’t working in a course.
- Convert that into polite, targeted criticism and deliver it to the appropriate faculty or teaching staff.
Goal: Goal: When a course has clear problems, you shouldn’t feel like you’re complaining in vain.
If you want your courses to feel a bit less like chaos and more like something you can actually stay on top of, Iād love your VOTE ALVIN KAPOOR for Director of Academics.
- ļ¼”ļ¼¬ļ¼¶ļ¼©ļ¼®ćļ¼«ļ¼”ļ¼°ļ¼Æļ¼Æļ¼²
Ming Zhou - Director of Academics
WHY IāM RUNNING
Computer Science isnāt just challenging anymore ā itās hell and uncertain.
Layoffs, rising hiring standards, and rapid changes in technology have made one thing clear: working hard is no longer enough if we donāt know what actually matters.
Many students are constantly busy: assignments, side projects, interview prep, but still unsure whether they are building the right skills for co-op and beyond.
I am running to strengthen the connection between academics and career preparation. CCSS Academics should not only help students pass courses: it should help students navigate the broader CS journey with clarity and direction.
IF ELECTED, I WILL DELIVER:
- Coursework-to-Career Playbooks
I will create structured guides that connect Carleton courses to real-world outcomes. These will explain:
- What practical skills each core course builds
- How those skills appear in technical interviews
- How to turn assignments into portfolio-quality work
- How to study strategically instead of blindly
The goal is to reduce confusion and give students purpose in their coursework.
- Career Path Toolkits (SWE / AI / Cyber / Systems / DevOps/embedded)
Concise guides outlining:
- Core skills required
- Recommended course paths
- Relevant tech stacks
- Interview focus areas
- Example project directions
This helps students stop collecting random tools and start building a coherent career story.
- Personal Project Pipeline (Start ā Ship ā Present)
A structured roadmap covering:
- How to choose meaningful projects
- Beginner ā intermediate ā advanced project progression
- Avoiding tutorial-only portfolios
- Writing strong project descriptions for resumes and GitHub
The goal is more finished, impactful and industry needed projects, half-complete repositories.
- Alumni & Senior Student Reality Series
Invite upper-year students, co-op students, and recent graduates to share:
- What actually helped them secure interviews
- Mistakes they made and lessons learned
- How they balanced coursework and career preparation
- What they would do differently
Real experiences provide clarity that generic advice cannot.
- Academic-to-Opportunity Bridge
Work with professors and labs to surface opportunities where students can contribute to real tools, scripts, or systems when possible. This creates pathways for practical experience beyond traditional co-op roles.
MY APPROACH
I will focus on practical, structured initiatives that can be implemented within one term and improved over time.
If you believe CCSS Academics should provide clarity, direction, and real preparation for todayās competitive environment, I would appreciate your support.
Rieley Hunt - Director of Academics
Hi everyone! I’m Rieley, a 4th year Computer Science student here at Carleton. I have been a TA for many courses including COMP1805 and COMP1405. I have also been the President of the Carleton Music Club for almost a year now. It would be no overstatement to say that I am well versed in organizing and realizing large-scale student initiatives.
Having worked both with instructors and directly with students, I understand something important:
Academic support only works when it’s structured, consistent, and accessible.
If elected, here’s what I will focus on:
Structured Study Support
I will:
- Coordinate midterm and final review sessions well in advance
- Create consistent formats for sessions
- Recruit strong upper year students and past TAs to lead them
- Expand support beyond just 2804/2402 into high-demand courses
My goal here is to have predictable, reliable academic support every semester.
A Clear Student to Faculty Feedback Pipeline
Students often feel like their concerns go unheard.
I will:
- Create structured feedback forms per course
- Compile trends and communicate them directly to instructors
- Follow up publicly (where appropriate) so students know their voices were heard
Constructive communication, not complaints about the courses themselves, leads to real improvement.
Making Research Less Intimidating
Many students are curious about research but do not know where to start. As someone who has taken on a DSRI (Dean Summer Research Internship), which turned into a Research Assistant role, I have working knowledge of learning where to start.
I will:
- Create guides and resources explaining DSRI, honours projects, undergrad research, and grad school paths.
- Connect interested students with professors seeking research assistants.
Making Myself Available
If elected as a member of the CCSS board, I plan to make myself available to the entire student body. This means staying active in the Discord server, hanging out in the CCSS lounge, conducting regular surveys, and continuing my TAing efforts throughout various COMP courses.
As someone who has been through it all, I plan to help students with any questions or concerns they may have about the Carleton Computer Science program, and to help those whose voices should be heard.
Sarah Adnan - Director of Academics
Hi everyone! I’m Sarah and I’m currently going into my second year of computer science in the cyber security stream.
Ā Ā Ā Ā I want to run as Director of Academics at the Carleton Computer Science Society. I’ve always been really passionate about creating an environment for my fellow peers where they feel supported, safe and empowered to succeed. Throughout my time in Carleton as a computer science student, I understand that right academic support is really important to succeed. A quiet place to study with like-minded people, access to practice problems, and a conversation with a person in the field can make the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling capable. I want to help build that support system for others. What really intrigued me about this position was its collaborative nature, and the fact that I’m going to be able to work and connect with many people.
Ā Ā Ā Ā If elected one of my top priorities would be to expand the study sessions. I would make it so that it has a clear schedule prioritizing midterm and finals season so people can drop in whenever they need help. I will also recruit upper-year students who have done well in the course to lead these study sessions and offer advice. In addition to that, I would love to highlight different academic pathways beyond coursework, such as undergraduate research, internships and graduate programs. Hosting Q&A sessions or a discussion board with professors and other students who have pursued these opportunities can be helpful to students who didnāt know about these pathways and encourage them to explore beyond it as well. Overall, I am committed to making academic support more accessible and visible within the computer science community at Carleton. I donāt want students to feel alone in their academic journey and that there are always resources and people ready to support them.
Thank you so much for your consideration and have a great day!
Sofia Alhennawi - Director of Academics
Hey everyone!! Iām Sofia, and Iām running for Director of Academics because I genuinely care about making Computer Science more accessible, more supportive, and less overwhelming!
To be honest, CS is a lot. We all know it. Confusing assignments, late night debugging, unsure of how to study, andddd imposter syndromeā¦ feeling like youāre behind even when youāre trying your best… I know. Itās not easy, but Iām here to make sure YOU can easily access useful resources that will help you thrive!
As a First Year Representative, Iāve heard it all, the 3 a.m. debugging breakdowns, the āwaitā¦ what is this assignment asking?ā, the pre-midterm panic. And itās made one thing clear: structured, accessible support isnāt optional, itās a must.
If elected, I will:
šOrganize Study Groups
- Where you get to meet other students in your courses
- A place to study together
- Teamwork and collaboration
š§ Provide Academic Resources
- Provide practice materials for multiple COMP courses
- Advice from upper-year students
- Study strategies tailored to different classes
š¼ Earlier Career & Technical Skill Preparation
- Have technical interview prep sessions
- Resume workshops
- Internship prep
Thank you so much for reading! :)
Feel free to reach out on Discord: sofia_a_33085
Follow my campaign Instagram: @sofiafirstyearrep
ā Vote SOFIA for Director of Academics! ā
Afaq Virk - Director of Industry Initiatives
REASONS to VOTE AFAQ VIRK as Director of Industry Initiatives š„š„š„
I am industrious š¤ (2 years of internship experience + 5 years managing a business) I understand both sides of the table: what employers expect, and what students actually need. Iāve operated in professional environments and built things from scratch on my own time.
I will help you get a j*b š¼ (iāll go so far as to mock interview or tutor you personally, just ask me, Iāve done it before). I will do more than propose “networking opportunities”. For anyone willing to put in the effort to boost their careers, I will meet you there.
I talk a lot, but in a good way š£ļø: Iām comfortable reaching out to people, following up, and building relationships. I will actively connect our society to Ottawaās tech sector through outreach, alumni, startups, and companies that are hiring students like us.
I have lots of initiative šāāļø: (iāve hosted technical interview prep, helped organize hackathons and networking events, among many others) You have a cool idea? Tell me, let’s get it done.
I once completed a Leetcode hard all by myself and it only took me four hours. This is the most important qualification.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
discord and instagram @afaqmvirk
Durvish Joshi (DJ) - Director of Industry Initiatives
āFrom lecture halls to LinkedIn calls, letās break down walls and land real roles.ā - DJ
Iām running for Director of Industry Initiatives because I believe opportunity shouldnāt be accidental, it should be intentional, organized, and accessible to every student. I donāt want to wait for the right moment, I want to create it!
Too often, students (sometimes including myself) feel like breaking into tech is a black box. You apply. You hope. You wait.
I want to change that.
If elected, my goal is simple:
Make industry feel closer, clearer, and more reachable for every CCSS student.
What I Will Do:
- Build Strong, Ongoing Industry Relationships
- Launch High-Impact Career Events
- Make Career Support Continuous, not Seasonal
1) Build Strong, Ongoing Industry Relationships
Not just one-off events, but lasting connections.
- Proactively reach out to recruiters, engineers, founders, and alumni via LinkedIn and email
- Maintain a clean, organized contact database for future executives
- Follow up consistently to turn conversations into long-term partnerships
Companies I would prioritize reaching out to:
- Kinaxis (strong Ottawa presence, proven interest in student networking)
- Ciena (DevOps, networking, and infrastructure exposure)
- Shopify (Canadian tech leader with diverse engineering teams)
- As well as startups in Kanata North and cybersecurity-focused firm
2) Launch High-Impact Career Events
Here are three initiatives I would push for immediately:
āInside the Hiring Roomā ā Recruiter & Hiring Manager Panel
A candid session where recruiters walk through:- What actually stands out in resumes
- How technical interviews are evaluated
- Common mistakes students make
Technical Deep Dive Series (Engineer-Led Talks)
Hands-on sessions with industry engineers on topics like:- Cloud architecture & DevOps
- Real-world cybersecurity incident response
- Scaling distributed systems
CCSS Resume & Interview Sprint Week (January Peak Season)
A structured, multi-day career prep series:- Resume reviews
- Mock technical interviews
- Behavioral interview workshops
- Networking crash course
3) Make Career Support Continuous, Not Seasonal
Career support shouldnāt spike once per term.
I would:
- Keep a running calendar of upcoming industry deadlines and events
- Create short, practical career resources posted on Discord/Instagram
- Ensure events are beginner-friendly so everyone, from all technical skills and backgrounds feel welcome
Why Me?
I also want to see more of such initiatives, thus Iāll try my best to apply all of the goals listed above.
Iām comfortable reaching out to new people, sending cold emails, and turning vague ideas into structured initiatives. Iām organized, persistent, and I follow through. If I say Iāll secure a speaker or organize an event, I will make sure it happens.
More importantly, I understand that this role isnāt about ājust getting inā, itās about being active and providing service.
Being visible in the CCSS lounge.
Listening to student concerns.
Asking, āWhat do you actually need right now?ā
And then building it.
Harshita Gupta - Director of Content Creation
Ever had a conversation with a prof, classmate, or an upper-year student and walked away thinking “wow, I would’ve never known that if they hadn’t told me”? I definitely have.šāāļø
Maybe it was job search advice that actually helped. Shared struggles in a course that made you feel less alone (looking at you Discrete Structures). A cool CS opportunity you didn’t even know existed. All the stuff that spreads through word of mouth meaning most of us never hear it.
Most of us are chronically online anyway, so why not have these things shared digitally? I know what you’re thinking: “we already have a CCSS Instagram, website, discordā¦” - Well I think I speak for a lot of us when I say we don’t just want event posters. We want more relatable, helpful, and engaging content that actually captures what it’s like to be a Carleton CS student!
And well that’s the gap I want to fill! My name is Harshita and I’m a third-year CS student who’s lived (and struggled) through this program long enough to know what’s missing and that’s why I’m running for Director of Content Creation!
What I Want to Build:
Turn events into content people actually watch: CCSS puts so much effort into workshops, events, and tech talks. I want to make sure that energy doesn’t just disappear when the room clears out. If you missed it, you shouldn’t feel like you missed everything. Think highlight reels, short videos, etc.
Practical guides/short reels for the stuff nobody teaches you: What do you put on a resume with no experience? What do you even say at a networking event? I want to make guides for the “stuff no one tells you about” and for the questions we’re all googling at 3am during our mid-life crisis crashouts (can’t just be me š).
Bring in people worth hearing from: Alumni, grad students, engineers, recruiters - there’s genuinely so much useful insight just one conversation away. I want to create interview content that feels more like a podcast episode than a career fair booth.
Content that makes you feel seen!: Being in the cs program can sometimes feel isolating behind a screen. I want to create content that reminds you you’re not alone in this - relatable struggles, shared experiences, memes, and more.
This also includes:
- Student Spotlights: cool projects, niche hobbies, internship experiences, etc.
- Professor Spotlights: quick, informal, fun features with the faculty! (I genuinely want to know what my professor’s favourite TV shows are)
Wow, you actually read all that - you’re a real one š Thanks for reading! I look forward to creating the kind of content that should be reaching every student in this program.
Karthi Kanthavel - Director of Content Creation
What’s up!! Hello guys, My name is Karthi Kanthavel and I am currently the First Year Representative who runs a lot of the CCSS Instagram Reels (yesā¦ the ones you actually watched).
I genuinely enjoy making fun, relatable content that gets students to pay attention instead of scrolling past.
Iām the type of person who likes to plan things properly, stay involved, and actually listen to students.
My goal is simple: make CCSS feel more alive, visible, and student-focused.
If elected, I will:
Keep dropping banger reels that are fun, silly, and more engaging for the CCSS community
Make sure more people know what CCSS is doing (no more āwaitā¦ this event was today?ā).
Stay approachable and present so students always have someone to reach out to.
Bring fun and creative ideas that bring our CCSS community together.
Build on whatās already cooking and push our engagement even higher.
The reason why I am running for director of content creation is because I love creating content, supporting students, and bringing energy to this community and Iām lowkey just getting started š„
Vote for Karthi AND I promise the reels will only get better from here šš„
Checkout my Instagram for more :D: @karthi_fyr
Feel free to reachout on Discord: karthi.k
