PSSA Receives 2025-2026 Society Excellence Award

Congratulations to the PSSA on receiving the 2025-2026 Society Excellence Award from the UTMSU!

The Department of Political Science is thrilled to share that the Political Science Students Association (PSSA) has received the 2025-2026 Society Excellence Award from the University of Toronto Mississauga Students' Union (UTMSU). The award is one of only three presented to student societies, recognizing outstanding contribution to campus life through events and programming.

This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of the PSSA executive team over the past year, as well as their commitment to building a strong and engaged Political Science community at UTM.

Individuals pictured from left to right:

• Lois Ogunnubi, UTMSU VP Campus Life
• Manaal Fatima, UTMSU VP External
• Miatah McCallum, UTMSU VP Equity
• Sreejith Panbarasan, PSSA Affairs Commissioner
• Samuel Kamalendran, PSSA President
• Sara Al-Haboubi, PSSA Current Affairs Associate
• Lucas Macinnis, PSSA Presidential Associate
• Andrew Park, UTMSU President

A Year to Remember

The Society Excellence Award caps off what has been a landmark year for the PSSA. From a new name and mandate to record-breaking events and meaningful community partnerships, here is a look at everything the team accomplished in 2025-2026.

A Fresh Mandate

Perhaps the most notable change the society saw this year was the alteration of its name, from the Political Science Pre-Law Association (PSLA) to the Political Science Student Association. According to 2025-2026 PSSA President Samuel Kamalendran, the decision was made after consultation with society executives and faculty leadership, and was intended to ensure the society reflected the aspirations of all Political Science students.

Key Events and Programs

The year began with the PSSA's first-ever Student Success Panel, which brought together 2024-2025 Department Student Award winners and high-achieving upper-year and graduated students to offer practical guidance on academic and professional success for lower-year and prospective undergraduates. With nearly 40 attendees, a talented panel, and great food, the event kick-started the year and exemplified the society's goal of supporting UTM's Political Science community.

A key part of accomplishing this mission was the PSSA's mentorship program, developed in collaboration with the UTMSU. Led by PSSA Affairs Commissioner Sreejith Panbarasan and VP Academics Ainur Zhabeyva, the program was the second-largest of its kind at UTM. It connected experienced upper-year students with lower-year peers to build strong community ties and give both mentors and mentees a greater stake in student life.

In early 2026, the PSSA hosted its first Brews and Borders event — a roundtable discussion featuring UTM Professors Arnd Jurgensen and Justin Baumgardner. Hosted by PSSA VP Current Affairs Christine Erhirhie and Current Affairs Associate Sara Al-Haboubi, the event brought together students from various academic backgrounds to discuss the political situation in the United States and its implications for Canada and the world. Students particularly appreciated the opportunity to contribute directly to meaningful political discussion.

Shortly after, the Association held its Career Pathways Panel, bringing together Political Science graduates and working professionals to offer students tangible insight into the careers available to them after graduation.

The Association closed out the year with its largest event: Scholars Showdown, developed in collaboration with the event's original designers, Students for Liberty. The event featured UTM Professors Justin Baumgardner and Christopher Greenaway in a friendly debate on Canada-United States relations, and drew a record-breaking turnout of over 90 students — a defining demonstration of the PSSA's potential and impact on campus.

The year also included a range of collaborations with fellow university organizations and student clubs, including the Political Science Department on their Fall, Winter, and March Open Houses; UTM's Real Estate, FinTech, Finance Careers, and Hedge Clubs for a multi-disciplinary examination of the 2008 financial crisis; the Model Parliament Club on their annual Policython; and the Pre-Law Organization, Mock Trials Club, and Sociology and Criminology Society for an end-of-year gala celebrating their collective success and raising funds for Toronto-based youth charity Kickback Organization.

To follow the PSSA, visit @pssa.utm on Instagram.

Congratulations to the entire team on an outstanding year!

2025-2026 Team