Five graduating computer science undergrad students from the Class of 2025 reflect on their experience at U of T and what’s next for them. (Photos: provided)
As U of T’s Class of 2025 celebrates convocation throughout June, five graduating Computer Science students reflect on their time as undergraduates.
These spotlights showcase the diverse journeys of CS students, their varied research interests and their aspirations for the future.
Helen Li
Name: Helen Li
College: Victoria College
Program: Computer Science Specialist with a focus in Computational Linguistics and Natural Language Processing, Artificial Intelligence; and Statistics Major
Helen Li blended research, mentorship, and industry experience at U of T, shaping a path from human-computer interaction to a future in software engineering and AI governance.
"Choosing computer science made me feel like I wasn’t picking just one thing, because I was able to combine many different fields, as technology manifests itself in various parts of our day-to-day life."
Read the full Q&A with Helen Li →
Jacqueline Seal
Name: Jacqueline Seal
College: Victoria College
Program: Computer Science Specialist, Math Minor
Jacqueline Seal bridged computer science and life sciences through research and internships in computational biology, while embracing U of T’s diverse academic and extracurricular opportunities.
"Take an elective course completely unrelated to your program of study, try out a bunch of clubs and see which ones feel the most fun and rewarding to you, and generally keep an open mind to the huge diversity of opportunities that U of T offers."
Read the full profile on Jacqueline Seal →
Leo Tenenbaum
Name: Leo Tenenbaum
College: University College
Program: Computer Science Specialist and Math Minor
Leo Tenenbaum explored the theoretical side of computer science at U of T, culminating in a joint first-author publication on microarchitectural side channels.
"I was already living in Toronto and had heard that U of T had a great computer science department, so it was only natural to apply."
Read the full profile on Leo Tenenbaum →
Sarah Walker
Name: Sarah Walker
College: Victoria College
Program: Computer Science Specialist with a focus in Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence
At U of T, Sarah Walker discovered how computer science could intersect with creativity, community, and advocacy — leading her to pursue law with a focus on AI and tech policy.
"I thought it would be good to get a broader sense of what is out there and what people could do with computer science; that, in part, helped me decide on what I wanted to pursue or at the very least what I didn't want to pursue."
Read the full Q&A with Sarah Walker →
Taylor Whatley
Name: Taylor Whatley
College: Woodsworth College
Program: Computer Science Specialist
Driven by a childhood fascination with how complex programs work, Taylor Whatley pursued computer science at U of T, where his curiosity led to impactful projects like Saturn and a Nintendo Entertainment System emulator.
"From then on, I would often see complicated or intricate programs, and I would say, 'I want to learn how to make that,' and that motivated me a lot to improve through my computer science journey."
Read the full Q&A with Taylor Whatley →