Skai Bekeris, USC News | Posted: Saturday, November 24th, 2019 10:00pm
Editor’s note: This article is part of the USC News Student Leader Profile Series, showcasing student leaders across campus.
Meet Matthew Tutty, the Faculty of Engineering’s Undergraduate Engineering Society (UES) President for the 2019/2020 school year. Tutty, a Hamilton, Ontario native, is pursuing a dual-degree in Chemical Engineering and Business.
Every morning, he starts off his day with a very large cup of coffee and a hot bowl of oatmeal before spending most of his time in the Engineering buildings studying and grabbing coffee with friends. Tutty also enjoys friendly political debates, travelling to new places, and is usually the first and last person on the Ceeps dance floor.
Having been passionate and involved with student government since Grade 7, it was only natural for Tutty to become further involved with Western’s Faculty of Engineering through UES. “Student councils have a real and extensive impact on students’ lives. Beyond being a fun extracurricular and a place to meet well-rounded individuals, being on a student council…can make real change in your community,” says Tutty. He adds, “The impact of student government is tangible and substantial. Serious change can be made or advocated for and that is why I am so enthusiastic about the UES.”
While Tutty has been involved with the UES for several years, the Society is working on establishing many exciting new initiatives this year. “We are currently working on [a] new clubs policy to ensure clubs get the most out of their relationship with the UES. Also, we are strengthening our relationships with our national partner, the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students and our provincial partner, Engineering Student Societies’ Council of Ontario, to share best practices and maximize advocacy work across all engineering student societies. Recently, we sent out a survey to all undergraduate engineering students to measure engagement and to help better appreciate students’ opinions.”
As the current UES president, Tutty has the valuable opportunity to provide insights and suggestions for the future goals of the Faculty of Engineering. Tutty highlights that a major focus in upcoming years is to“[increase] the number of women in the undergraduate engineering student population. There is a national priority to raise the percentage of newly licensed female engineers to 30% by 2030. I believe more diverse representation of engineers is absolutely essential for the future of innovation and engineering in Canada. I wish to see this goal accomplished through continued outreach initiatives and by highlighting the success of female alumni.”
It’s clear Tutty’s involvement in his Faculty’s Undergraduate Society is positively impacting the lives of his peers. With this in mind, Tutty also acknowledges the role that Western’s University Students’ Council (USC) has played in impacting his own student experience. “The many efforts and initiatives of the USC are so prevalent on campus. Whether it be the amazing Orientation Week I experienced or the satisfaction of a Spoke bagel while studying, I appreciate the USC’s work to ensure our student experience is cared for,” Tutty remarks.
What’s next for Tutty? The ambitious, passionate, and engaged student leader hopes to follow a career path that allows him to be actively involved in impacting change within society. “I am driven by community impact…I am planning on pursuing my professional engineering license working as a process engineer, then into corporate management, and eventually into politics. I am hoping to explore industries that generate positive social impact, including work to lessen the effects of climate change.”
With his experiences, Tutty will greatly impact the communities he is a part of, now and in the future. He adds that his participation in student government, as President of the UES, has taught him many important life lessons.“I have learned that listening is always the first step in enacting change in your community. Also, the importance of work-life balance and how paramount it is to prioritize commitments are skills I have practiced with my extra-curricular responsibilities,” said Tutty.
Students who wish to get involved can learn more about the UES at http://www.westernues.com/ and can learn more about the USC at https://westernusc.ca/.