Sukeerthi Sundarapu

Member of the Dean’s List, class of 2025

Throughout her time at Sheffield, Sukeerthi has shown a commitment to governance, a talent for organisation, and a passion for volunteering.

Governance and leadership

During her studies, Sukeerthi championed her peers and used her student voice in her roles as a Departmental Councillor for the Management School and as Vice Chair of the Student Council for the University. 

Ensuring council meetings were inclusive, Sukeerthi sought to create a safe space for students to voice their opinions and seek resolution. Going a step further, she proposed and implemented measures to strengthen communication between councillors and academic representatives, driving positive, long-term structural change within the council. 

As an Academic Student Representative, Sukeerthi took on the role with gusto and played an important role in bridging the gap between students and faculty. Serving on disciplinary panels as part of her role, she contributed to fair, real-world outcomes. 

Volunteering

Through hands-on volunteering, Sukeerthi immersed herself in Sheffield’s cultural and events scene. 

At Sheffield DocFest, she joined the special parties and venues team, where she coordinated diverse stakeholder groups, managed day-to-day logistics, and ensured a seamless event delivery. Additionally, Sukeerthi was instrumental at the Children’s Media Conference, where she spent three months helping to manage delegate services for over 500 international participants. 

Environmental advocacy

Beyond her roles in governance and event management, Sukeerthi is a dedicated advocate for the environment. As the Co-Project Leader of the Change Lab Biodiversity Action Group, Sukeerthi drove initiatives to increase ecological awareness within both the University and wider Sheffield communities.

As Co-Leader, she managed budgets, chaired meetings, and directed social media campaigns. Her advocacy work included organising biodiversity workshops for children in local community centres and volunteering with the HERB Biodiversity organisation. Under her co-leadership, the group successfully installed biodiversity signage in public spaces and engaged with high-profile community stakeholders, including a local MP. 

Professional development

Throughout all this, Sukeerthi remained dedicated to improving her professional skills and experience.

Alongside her volunteering role with the Change Lab, Sukeerthi participated in a mentoring programme and attended leadership workshops associated with the programme. She also made the most of the employability service, taking part in a three-day Leadership Series workshop at the University. 

Her professional impact extended to the Broomhill Community Trust, where she delivered a 60-hour consultancy project to help secure the future fundraising through rigorous research and strategy.