Jessica Chen
Computer Science Specialist
New College
Jessica Chen’s undergraduate experience was defined by her involvement with the University of Toronto Machine Intelligence Student Team (UTMIST), where she took on leadership roles to support student learning and exploration. Through these experiences, she embraced uncertainty and learned to take chances on new opportunities.
Now, she is continuing her studies at the graduate level, with an interest in interdisciplinary applications of artificial intelligence.
This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.
You’ve held multiple leadership roles within UTMIST, including VP Academics. What motivated you to take on such a large role in shaping student learning experiences?
If you had asked me in my first year, I would never have imagined myself in a leadership role. Over the course of my undergrad, I realized I wanted to make a broader impact on the community that gave me so much. Since I've been with UTMIST for so long, it felt natural for me to take on leadership positions and give back.
Through UTMIST, you led initiatives like workshops and competitions. What impact were you hoping these would have on other students?
Many people I know, including myself, didn't really know what they were interested in at the start of university or felt like they were behind. Even in the upper years, people change directions – I did too. Through these workshops and events, we aimed to help students explore topics they’re curious about and build a community where they can learn together.
It's normal not to have everything figured out right away, and I hope we made trying something new feel a little less intimidating. It's absolutely OK if students don't end up enjoying it — what matters is that they tried something they were interested in.
What first drew you to computer science, and was there a moment during your degree when you knew you’d made the right choice?
I was interested in video game development, so computer science felt like a no-brainer. I didn't take any CS courses or do much coding before university, so I was going in pretty much blind. Looking back, I feel like I accomplished more than I could have imagined, especially in my last year.
I don't think there was a moment when I knew I’d made the right choice, but it’s a choice I make the most of every day.
What are your interests outside of computer science?
I keep up with music and dance. I've had opportunities to perform in shows around Toronto and even toured Europe with an orchestra once! I also love gaming. You can probably find me playing late at night, even in the middle of exam season.
What's next for you, and how does computer science fit into that?
This summer, I’m interning at Sledgehammer Games, working on Call of Duty. In September, I'll head to the University of Alberta for a thesis-based master’s program. I'll likely work on an interdisciplinary project at the intersection of AI and biology, although nothing is set in stone.
I don't know what my future career or academic route will look like, but computer science will definitely be part of it in some way.