Areesha Imtiaz

Dr. Andrew G. Chong President鈥檚 Scholar

Areesha Imtiaz

Major: Computer Science

College of Science

Activities: social advisor, sheCodes; Muslim Student Association; Kellogg Honors College; tutor, MEP-WISE; travel; cooking; working out 

Areesha considers computer science magical as it provides the tools to push boundaries and provide endless possibilities for solving problems. In summer 2024, she conducted undergraduate research to enhance the safety of self-driving cars, comparing CARLA and Unity platforms for visualizing self-driving car navigations under text-based inputs to study how to best provide real-time instructions in critical situations. This experience not only strengthened her technical skills but also reinforced her interest in technology for social improvement. As an international student, she is proud that she can navigate new cultures and systems while balancing academics and homesickness, saying “it’s not easy being far from home, but I’ve learned to carry my roots with me and grow through every challenge.” Areesha’s inspiration is her mother, who models that “true strength lies in showing up for others even in your most difficult moments.” Areesha hopes to work as a full-stack software engineer and to complete a Ph.D. in computer science in order to mentor the next generation of technologists.