LUMS Establishes the Computer Science Alumni Network (CAN)

As the alumni community multiplies every year, so too does the need to build and strengthen alumni affinities. In light of this, the Department of Computer Science in collaboration with the Office of Advancement took the exciting step to establish the Computer Science Alumni Network (CAN) this spring.

With over 2500 Computer Science alumni and counting, LUMS harbours a vibrant CS alumni community that now has the ideal affinity space to come together for professional growth, learning opportunities, personal networking, and lasting connections.

In an effort to provide some structure to the network, that will serve as the pillar of the group moving forward, the CS Alumni Network also established its first Executive Board, comprised of 11 dynamic alumni from different organisations and professional streams around the world. The five key leadership positions of the network have also been elected from within this board and include Yasser Bashir (BSc 1997), CEO Arbisoft, as President, Sadia Saleem Cheema (MS 2008), Assistant Professor at IIUI, as Vice President (Academia), Mohsin Ali (BS 2014), Business Engineering Manager at Meta, as Vice President (Industry), Ifrah Idrees (BS 2018), Applied Scientist at Amazon Lab126, as General Secretary, and Fahad Dogar (BSc 2005), Associate Professor at Tufts University, as Treasurer.

Working in close tandem with the Computer Science faculty at LUMS, the Computer Science Alumni Network (CAN) aims to become an integral wing of both the CS department and the alumni community at large. With the inaugural board up and running, key discussions on the role of the network have been had, with a focus moving forward on providing industry preparations for students, such as international industry referrals, resume and interview coaching, and a more systematic approach to faculty-industry liaison.

This initiative is not just about reconnecting but creating avenues for collaboration, support, and growth. The hope is to build an interconnected community that thrives on its strengths and actively shapes the future of the Computer Science landscape, creating a legacy that transcends generations of CS alumni.