Celebrating this fall’s convocation, the University of Waterloo recognized five graduate valedictorians who exemplified academic excellence and community impact. Among them, one Faculty of Engineering graduate stood out for her contributions to human-robot interaction and global youth empowerment.
Andrea Chakma (BASc' 23, Mechatronics Engineering) was named valedictorian for the Faculty of Engineering after completing her Master of Applied Science in Systems Design Engineering. Drawn to Waterloo’s culture of innovation, Chakma stayed on after her undergraduate degree to continue developing her research on embedding personality into social robots, creating customizable, relatable frameworks that enhance engagement in child education and elder care.
Her passion for teaching and mentorship shaped both her academic and personal journeys. During her master’s, she founded a STEM scholarship in Bangladesh to support young learners and was a finalist in Waterloo’s GradFlix and Human-Robot Interaction Design competitions. Beyond campus, she was elected as the incoming International Youth Representative for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, continuing her advocacy for leadership development worldwide.
Go to Graduate scholars bridge research and community to drive impact to read more about Chakma and other graduate valedictorians.
Andrea Chakma (BASc' 23, Mechatronics Engineering; MASc' 25, Systems Design Engineering)