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When Joya Boutros arrived in Halifax in 2021, she had never been to Canada. She quickly adjusted to the new culture, the colder weather, and the art of layering clothes for the long winters. However, when she entered her first year in engineering at Dalhousie University, she had one thing on her mind: her studies.

“The main purpose of us coming was for me to go to school,” she recalls, adding that she arrived in Canada with her father and was later joined by her mother and brother.

Looking back now, she says the university offered her so much more than just the chance to earn an engineering degree.

Leading the Atlantic Engineering Competition

Today the senior-year Electrical Engineering student is the Co-Chair of the upcoming 2026 Atlantic Engineering Competition (AEC), which will be hosted by Dalhousie University this winter.

AEC, the regional counterpart to the Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC), brings together students from across Atlantic Canada to tackle challenging engineering problems, compete in technical events, and showcase innovative solutions. After serving as Programming Director for the CEC, which was hosted at Dalhousie Engineering last winter, Joya was inspired to take on an even larger leadership role as Co-Chair of this year’s AEC.

“I saw how successful it (CEC) was, and how the organizing team really enjoyed it and loved planning it,” she says. “And I was like, OK, well, maybe I can take on a bigger role and actually become the Co-Chair for AEC.”

For her, this means overseeing every detail of the conference, including coordinating a team of 10 to 12 VPs, supporting 25 directors who manage various portfolios, and managing sponsorships, logistics, program planning, competitions, and more.

At the start of planning, Joya admits she felt a bit nervous, especially after reviewing the transition document she received from the CEC organizing committee to guide the AEC preparations. Yet, despite her worries, everything is right on track. Sponsorships are underway, hotels for attendees are booked, and her team is gradually moving forward with logistics. Still, she says that organizing a large-scale event while completing her final semester in electrical engineering can be a challenge.

“I won't lie, sometimes I have to accommodate my studies or sacrifice a little bit to study at night,” she says.

Campus Impact

Balancing academics with extracurriculars is nothing new for Joya. In fact, AEC is just one of many leadership opportunities she’s taken on during her time at Dal Engineering.

In her second year, she became active in the Women in Engineering Society, volunteering at events and later mentoring second- and third-year engineering students. She was also part of the Student Affairs Committee for Electrical Engineering, became President of the Electrical Engineering Society, and volunteered with Dalhousie’s Microtransat Autonomous Sailboat Society, the IEEE Student Branch, and the Iron Ring Committee.

She has also taken on wider roles beyond Dalhousie, serving this year as the Atlantic Council of Engineering Students (ACES) Sponsors Relations Commissioner, where she helps connect sponsors with ACES to secure funding and partnerships for events. She also volunteers as a member of the DSU Emergency Bursary Committee, helping review applications and decide on awards for students facing unexpected financial challenges.

Joya says these experiences taught her the importance of accountability, time management, and addressing challenges directly.

“You’ve got to get work done, you can't procrastinate,” she says. “These taught me so much, because in my first year I used to procrastinate a lot.”

Back then, Joya says she wasn’t involved in any extracurriculars. Focused on her studies and unsure how to navigate campus life, she kept mostly to herself.

“It was a bit hard at the beginning, because I didn't have a lot of friends in my first year and I didn't know how to get involved,” she explains. “I was a little shy and I didn't want to go out a lot. I used to study alone, and I used to do everything alone.”

Her perspective began to shift in her second year when she met Karyn Hemsworth, the Faculty’s Student Engagement Coordinator, who encouraged her to explore campus activities and showed her how to get involved.

Through these opportunities, Joya has built a strong network of peers across Dalhousie Engineering. She says these opportunities not only enhanced her academic experience but also helped with her her confidence, motivation, and grades.

“Getting more involved on campus just makes you feel more encouraged to do a good job,” she says. “And honestly, if you ask me for advice for students, it’s to get involved, because that’s what changed my life.”

For her dedication and leadership, Joya was named to the Dean’s Leadership List last spring, an honour that highlights outstanding co- and extra-curricular contributions within the Faculty of Engineering. It’s recognition that reminds her that success at university is about more than just grades.

“Study hard but make time for other things as well and don’t forget to get involved,” she says. “School is about making memories and having fun, not just academics.”