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“Northeastern became our second family”: Kalhar Pandya and Mansi Modi’s journey in Vancouver  

From undergrads in India to a married couple on the verge of earning CS master's degrees in Vancouver, Kalhar Pandya and Mansi Modi have built their journey on community, collaboration, and a drive for a shared future.

March 17, 2026

by Caroline Baker Dimock

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 When Kalhar Pandya and Mansi Modi began their master’s degrees in computer science at Northeastern’s Vancouver campus, they weren’t simply starting a new academic chapter. They were continuing a journey that had begun years earlier — one that had grown from curiosity about technology into a partnership that would carry them across continents. 

Today, as they near the completion of their graduate programs, their story reflects not only academic ambition, but also the power of community, collaboration, and shared goals.

Pandya and Modi first met at a technology event in India during their first year as undergraduate computer science students. At the time, both were eager to understand what opportunities might lie ahead.

“We were there just exploring the new tech world because we were first-year students doing bachelor’s degrees,” Modi said. “We were very curious about what the industry was doing.”

Amid presentations, demonstrations, and conversations about emerging technologies, they found themselves equally curious about one another.

“We became friends first, but didn’t start dating until six months after that,” Modi said with a laugh. “He liked me from the very start, but I took my time.”

What began as a friendship built around shared academic interests eventually grew into a deeper relationship, one that would continue to shape their educational paths. As Pandya and Modi approached the end of their undergraduate studies and began thinking about graduate school, one goal quickly became clear: They wanted to continue their academic journey together.

The couple applied to multiple universities around the world before deciding on Northeastern University’s Vancouver campus.

“Northeastern has a global presence and it is a very well-known university. And Vancouver is a very good city,” Modi said.

The decision allowed them to pursue a highly regarded computer science program while experiencing life in one of Canada’s most vibrant technology hubs. Vancouver’s growing tech industry and multicultural environment made it an appealing place to live, learn, and build their careers.

Once in the program, Pandya and Modi discovered that their academic paths would often intersect.

“We both took the same courses till the very last term,” Modi said. “In this last term we are taking different courses, but with the same professors.”

Working through challenging coursework together — from programming and system design to artificial intelligence — allowed them to support one another academically while strengthening their relationship outside the classroom.

Although their interests have begun to diverge somewhat as they specialize within computer science, their graduate experience has largely been shared. Study sessions, group projects, and discussions about research have become part of their daily routine.

Now their academic timelines are beginning to diverge as well. Modi will graduate in April, while Pandya will complete his degree in August.

“Currently we are just looking for jobs,” Modi said, noting that while they hope to remain in Vancouver after graduation, they are open to wherever new opportunities might lead.

Throughout their time at Northeastern, both have built strong academic and professional records. Pandya completed an eight-month co-op at Oracle Labs, gaining industry research experience while contributing to advanced technical projects. His work and inquisitive nature have also earned recognition within the Northeastern community, including the Exceptional Curiosity Award at Northeastern Vancouver and Northeastern’s 2026 Outstanding Network Student Award, which he will receive in Boston next month.

The couple has also worked together outside of traditional coursework, often teaming up for hackathons and technical competitions.

“We won first prize in the Deloitte hackathon. We were on the same team,” Modi said.

Their collaborative spirit extends beyond competitions. Together they have organized and delivered workshops focused on AI automation, sharing their knowledge with fellow students and aspiring developers.

Pandya and Modi have also served as teaching assistants for several courses, including “Program Design Paradigm,” “Object-Oriented Design,” “Foundations of AI,” and “Building Scalable Distributed Systems.” In these roles, they have supported faculty and mentored other students, explaining complex topics in programming, systems design, and artificial intelligence.

Both said that one of the most meaningful aspects of their Northeastern experience has been the relationships they’ve built with faculty members.

Pandya and Modi with Vancouver professors Lino Coria Mendoza (left) and Ildar Akhmetov

“The professors here are very accessible,” Pandya said. “We can just go and say hi to a professor even if there is nothing important to discuss. We generally talk about much more than just a course itself.”

“That was missing in our bachelor’s program,” Modi added. “Back there, it’s not so much of the culture to just approach a professor if you don’t have any academic work with them. So, it was very different for us, and in a very positive way.”

Those relationships helped shape a sense of belonging that extended beyond the classroom, so much so that when the couple decided to get married in Canada, they invited many members of the Northeastern Vancouver community to celebrate with them.

“We had all of our professors and friends from the university, staff members, even the dean, Steve [Eccles], join us for the celebration,” Modi said.

For two students who had moved thousands of miles from home, the wedding became a reflection of the new support network they had built.

“We didn’t have a family when we came here, and within a year we had plenty to invite to our wedding. It was pleasing, amazing, and comforting,” Modi said. “Northeastern became our second family, kind of. Our first family in Canada, really.”