Posted: December 1, 2023
How long have you been a volunteer with Dal and in what capacity?
I have been a board member with the Faculty of Agriculture Alumni Association since 2016, and most recently I've been serving as the secretary for the board.
What inspired you to begin volunteering?
Throughout my degree I served in the roles of VP Finance and President of the Student's Union at the Agriculture Campus (formerly NSAC). This kept me engaged with various campus initiatives and provided me the opportunity to develop relationships with students, faculty and community members. In June of 2016, there was an opening on the board and a friend reached out to see if I'd be interested. I didn't hesitate to get involved.
What have you learned or gained through your volunteerism with Dal?
It’s given me the opportunity to give back to the school and alumni, which gave me so much while I was in Truro. It’s also allowed me to stay connected to the campus and the Maritimes over the years. Additionally, I find that being involved with different work, volunteer and social initiatives exposes you to a variety of experiences, people and perspectives. It gives you a breadth of experience and helps you to be more empathetic and curious when approaching new situations.
Can you tell us about your single best experience volunteering (so far)?
Most of my volunteer time is spent remotely on calls with the board, but this past summer I had the opportunity to partake in an in-person event with a few board members while visiting home (PEI). The Alumni Association sponsored a golf team at the Agri-Golf Classic tournament. It was a great (hot) day to connect with familiar and new faces. We had a lot of fun, even though we lost a couple golf balls.
What advice would you give other alumni interested in volunteering with their alma mater?
Find something that you’re passionate about and see what opportunities there are in that area. Even if you decide it isn’t for you, you have that knowledge and can readjust your attention elsewhere to find what is a good fit.
Do you have any other connections to Dal?
Aside from countless friends that are like my family, I have an older brother and sister-in-law who attended Dal AC.
There are many opportunities to volunteer – why do you give your time and talent to Dal?
Agriculture has been an important part of my life: I grew up on a farm, I went to ¹û½´ÊÓƵ Agricultural Campus, and I've worked at Farm Credit Canada for the last 12 years. Giving my time to Dal helps me to invest in the current and next generations who will help to innovate and evolve agriculture to feed the world's growing population.