My name is Joseph Kannarkat and I am running for Student Government Board. I am a sophomore studying both Neuroscience and Mathematics-Economics. I hope to serve as a liaison of the students to the administration to ensure their concerns are heard and to create effective change at Pitt. My involvement in various organizations on campus like the American Medical Student Association, Student Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations, and the South Asian Student Association have given me insight on what I would like to achieve on board.

      If elected to board, my goals will be to focus on implementing several academic changes as well as improving mental health awareness on campus. Academically, I would like to diversify and expand the options required to fulfill general education requirements to ensure a wider course selections for students to choose from and to more specifically provide new opportunities that would be fitting to the Pitt community. One such example would be to continue to push for a Public Health certificate which obtains added relevance when considering the amount of the student body pursuing medical careers. I would also advocate for the public release of OMETs to serve as a resource for both students and professors. In terms of mental health, I would like to participate in actively advocating the services the university has to offer for students as well as provide mental health training to students when they enter as freshmen.

      I would like to use Student Government Board as an avenue to advocate not only my initiatives, but to work with other motivated student board members to have their own initiatives be successful as well. Together, let us continue to make Pitt better than ever!