Shervin Akhlaghi
Shervin Akhlaghi is an undergraduate student in the Civil Engineering program at Toronto Metropolitan University, specializing in the transportation stream. He was appointed to the TMU Board of Governors as a student representative for a one-year term beginning on September 1, 2025, and concluding on August 31, 2026.
Prior to his appointment, Shervin gained over two years of hands-on experience in the engineering sector, working part-time during the academic year and full-time in the summers at a firm specializing in cathodic protection within the oil and energy industry. His work involved drafting engineering and commissioning reports, as well as conducting field inspections of pipelines and refineries. This early exposure to technical and high-responsibility environments taught him discipline, time management, and the importance of balancing academic and professional commitments.
At TMU, Shervin has taken on several leadership roles. He currently serves as the Co-President of the TMU Model United Nations Club, having started as a delegate before moving up the ranks. Under his leadership, the club has earned recognition as one of the top 75 Model UN university teams in North America, participating in a highly competitive circuit alongside students from some of the most prestigious academic institutions. These experiences not only sharpened his public speaking and diplomacy skills, but also broadened his worldview by engaging with diverse perspectives and global issues. Through Model UN, he has had the opportunity to meet with Canadian Members of Parliament, Members of Provincial Parliament, and ambassadors from various countries, allowing him to learn firsthand about their roles, leadership styles, and insights on key domestic and international issues.
Shervin is also the founder and president of the TMU Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Club. A blue belt in the sport, he established the club to make high-quality martial arts training accessible to TMU students. Today, the club has over 40 active participants, and Shervin personally teaches classes, emphasizing BJJ as both a mental and physical discipline often referred to as “physical chess.” His passion for the sport and its benefits inspired him to found the Canadian Universities Jiu-Jitsu Association (CUJA), a national initiative aimed at uniting university BJJ clubs across Canada. Backed by the Ontario Jiu-Jitsu Association (OJA), CUJA fosters collaboration, competition, and the expansion of university-level BJJ programming.
Beyond his extracurricular and professional pursuits, Shervin serves as a Student Ambassador for TMU’s Student Recruitment Office, where he often acts as the first point of contact for prospective students. In this role, he proudly represents the university, sharing his experiences and advocating for the value of TMU’s academic and community environment.
Shervin’s motivation to join the Board of Governors stems from a desire to improve transparency and accountability in university governance. He believes students deserve to understand how decisions are made at the highest level and is committed to representing their voices, interests, and well-being. Looking ahead, he plans to attend law school after completing his undergraduate degree, with the goal of equipping himself with the tools to contribute to society.