Suhrit Padakanti

Hi everyone! My name is Suhrit Padakanti, and I'm running to be a senator for the College of Engineering.

As an engineering student, I’ve experienced firsthand how intense, challenging, and rewarding this journey can be. I’m running because I want to be a strong and honest voice for students like us—people who are constantly balancing labs, problem sets, late nights, and career goals, while also trying to find community, balance, and meaning.

I believe the College of Engineering deserves more direct student advocacy. If elected, I’ll focus on making sure our concerns are actually addressed: things like increasing access to study spaces and lab resources, improving communication between departments and students, expanding research and internship opportunities, and ensuring every student has access to mental health resources without long wait times. I will work to ensure students from all majors and backgrounds feel represented, especially transfer students, international students, and first-generation college students who often don’t get the support they need.

Outside of academics, I care about building community. I’ll collaborate with engineering orgs, faculty, and student services to host more career-building events, mixers, and wellness-centered initiatives. I believe we need more opportunities to connect—not just as students, but as people.

Leadership to me means being present, being accountable, and always listening. I’ll hold regular office hours, run polls on key issues, and give students real transparency into the decisions being made on our behalf.

Thank you for your support!