My CBU Story: Alex Burke

Years ago, if you asked Alex Burke what his plans were for after high school, he would have told you he had more ideas than direction. Looking back, the soon-to-be Bachelor of Arts Community Studies (BaCS) graduate is glad he wound up where he did. CBU’s BaCS program stood out to Alex as adaptable and hands-on, where he could try new things, meet new people and figure out the other details as he progressed.

“After I graduated high school, I didn’t have the clearest idea of what I wanted to do in life. I had so many different ideas floating around in my head! After consulting with advisors and my parents, I found CBU’s BACS program. This seemed like the best fit for me,” Alex says. “Four years later, I can confidently say it was a great choice! I now know what I want to do and it was the BACS program that helped me prepare for it.”

What landed for Alex right away was the work beyond the classroom. Community placements and project work put Alex in real situations with real outcomes, from campus initiatives to off-campus community partnerships. He says the program showed how people can make a difference on a community level. “The thing I’ve enjoyed most about this program is easily working within the community. Throughout the four years of my program, I’ve had so many different opportunities to get to work within the CBU community and beyond,” Alex says. “The BACS program really exposed me to different ways we can help out within the community on both small and large scales.”

While Alex was supported by his classmates and campus community, he credits his parents as his number one supporters throughout his academic journey. He also credits the CBU Communications department faculty for helping find his voice. He says they helped shape his approach to writing, presenting and working with teams.

“Being a communication major, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to all the incredible professors in the communication department, like Felix Odartey-Wellington, Shauna MacDonald and Sarah MacRae, to name a few,” Alex says. “The communication classes I took here at CBU helped me a ton. I was able to participate in so many different classes focusing on different aspects of communication, which helped widen my horizons on what I wanted to do for my career.”

A highlight of Alex’s CBU journey came last March when he and his classmates organized a community-based action project focused on food insecurity. Months of planning led to a live event filled with music, guest speakers and community engagement.

“After months of preparation and a few roadblocks along the way, we hosted our event featuring guest speakers and live music from the Turnbull Brothers and others,” Alex says. “In total, we raised nearly $500 for the CBUSU Food Bank and collected enough non-perishable items to completely fill a local food pantry in Sydney. Seeing our hard work pay off like that was an incredibly rewarding experience I’ll never forget.”

Alex says what he will miss most about CBU is the welcoming campus atmosphere that encouraged him to take risks and try new things. The supportive environment – from staff and faculty to classmates from diverse backgrounds turned projects and new classes into opportunities to connect and grow.

“The highlight of my time here has been finding lifelong friends,” he shares. “We’ve grown together not only in classes but also in developing our skills, and that’s something really special to me.”

Reflecting on his journey, Alex hopes his story encourages other students who may be unsure of their next steps after high school. He believes it’s okay not to have everything figured out right away. “The classes you take and the people you meet will help shape your path,” Alex says. “It took me a while to decide what I wanted to do, so don’t be afraid to take your time.”

Looking ahead, Alex feels both grounded and inspired about the future. While he hasn’t completely decided on his long-term career plans, he’s developed a strong interest in public relations and is considering Mount Saint Vincent University’s Bachelor of Public Relations program in the new year.

As November 5 approaches and the Fall 2025 graduating class prepares to cross the Kehoe Forum stage, Alex reflects on how much his peers have overcome. “We’ve all come a long way these past few years,” he says. “From pandemics to hurricanes to snowstorms, we’ve faced our share of challenges. But we’ve also shown that CBU students persevere. We should all be incredibly proud.”

Congratulations to Alex and the entire graduating class of Fall 2025