New President and Vice-President Announced for CBU Alumni Association

On March 27, 2019, a new executive committee of the Cape Breton University Alumni Association was announced at the associations’ board meeting on the Cape Breton University campus.
Kelsea MacNeil, BA’11 will take the role of President, and Jill McPherson BA’10 will take the role of Vice-President. MacNeil will take over the President’s role from Scott Thomas BA’06. Thomas held the role for three years and will continue with the board as Past President. Britney Erickson, BA ’11 MBA ’13 takes the role of secretary and Janice MacQueen, BBA’07 returns as Treasurer.

“We are so lucky to have a world-class university in Cape Breton, and I am thrilled to help lead the Alumni Association board,” says Kelsea MacNeil.  “You would be hard-pressed to walk into any business or institution in Cape Breton and not find a proud group of CBU grads – without CBU, the landscape of our business community and employment in Cape Breton would look completely different – CBU makes us stronger as a community.”

MacNeil is from New Waterford and is the Director of Communication and Stakeholder Relations at Membertou Development Corporation. McPherson grew up in Port Morien and is the owner of a new microbrewer cidery set to open in north-end Sydney in the fall of 2019, called Island Folk Cider House.
“The Alumni family of Cape Breton University is a group who are not only contributing to their communities and workplaces but who are also contributing to the future direction of the University through engagement and promotion,” says David C. Dingwall, CBU President & Vice-Chancellor. “Our Alumni family is diverse, strong and proud of their roots; they are the University’s biggest ambassadors.”

Each year, the CBU Alumni Association Board takes part in several events and initiatives, including the annual Alumni Awards, golf tournaments, orientation and grad week activities and participate in other events within the community. Over the years, the Association has built an endowment of nearly $800,000 and issues a number of scholarships and bursaries to help students of CBU achieve their educational goals.

“As alumni, we all share a common connection to Cape Breton University. While our fields of study, backgrounds, and interests may vary, we are more alike than we are different. Being “Always Orange” means that we will forever have a place at the university,” says MacNeil. “Whether you’re a new grad or a graduate from one of our predecessor institution, we’re all invited to be engaged alumni and be part of something bigger than ourselves. The CBU Alumni Association is a strong connector for us to continue to share experiences and opportunities.”

Cape Breton University is an Atlantic Canadian post-secondary leader, with a growing national and international reputation. Currently, home to nearly 5000 students, CBU’s vision of post-secondary education allows students to pursue dynamic fields of study that are ideally suited for success in liberal arts, business, health, education, science, and technology. Students from more than 40 countries study at CBU and benefit from the university’s unique commitment to the community, economic development, Indigenous learning, and research into many aspects of environment and culture.

The Cape Breton University Alumni family is comprised of more than 23,000 members, representing more than 40 countries. The Alumni Association is dedicated to promoting the mission, vision, and values of Cape Breton University and sharing and celebrating successes and stories of the CBU Alumni Family. The CBU Alumni Association is committed to strengthening ties between Alumni, community, and Cape Breton University and its predecessor institutions, including Xavier Junior College, Eastern Nova Scotia Technology Institute, College of Cape Breton and University College of Cape Breton.