Originally from a farm in Kirkton, Ontario, Elizabeth learned early on what it meant to take responsibility seriously. That sense of showing up stayed with her as she moved into university, where she is now a third-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student majoring in Managing People and Organizations, with certificates in Disability Management and Leadership. When she chose Dalhousie, it was not only the “East Coast charm” that drew her in, but also the structure of a program that allowed her to learn by doing. As she explains, the deciding factor was “the opportunity to gain work experience through my co-op terms.” 

That openness to experience has significantly shaped her time at Dalhousie. Between her first and second year, Elizabeth completed a study abroad experience at HAN University in the Netherlands, earning a certificate in European Culture, Business and Entrepreneurship. For her, the chance to step outside familiar settings was not about following a set plan, but about understanding how learning could look different in new environments. 

In winter 2025, her first co-op brought her behind the scenes of Dalhousie itself. Working with the Office of Advancement as an Annual Giving Coordinator, Elizabeth led a team of six students during an eight-week phonathon and contributed to projectDal, Dalhousie’s crowdfunding platform. She continued in the role after her co-op ended, staying on as the lead for projectDal until December 2025. Looking back, she describes the experience as one that “provided insight into the key university operations that students don’t often consider.” Interacting with projects across faculties, including the Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity and the Oulton-Stanish Centre, helped her see how much work happens quietly behind the scenes to support the Dal community. 

Her second co-op brought her into a different setting as an HR Representative at East Coast Credit Union. There, Elizabeth supported recruitment, employee experience, and learning and development initiatives across the organization. It was an environment that made something she had long believed feel tangible. “I’ve always believed that people shape the workplace,” and seeing how culture influenced collaboration, engagement, and growth reinforced her interest in people-focused work. More importantly, it confirmed for her that building environments where employees feel “valued and empowered” is not just an ideal, but something that can be practiced every day. 

When asked about her favourite project, Elizabeth does not point to a single highlight. “I struggle to choose a single favourite project because each one offered unique opportunities to learn and grow.” What stayed with her most were projects that challenged her thinking and asked her to solve problems in new ways, particularly when that work led to meaningful results. For Elizabeth, impact mattered more than visibility. 

Her interest in Managing People and Organizations began before university, during a gap year after high school. While working at McDonald’s, she transitioned into a People Department Manager role, where she was responsible for hiring, onboarding, and training employees to support the opening of two new stores alongside her home location. It was during this time that she first “discovered the importance of a positive work environment,” a realization that would later shape both her academic focus and co-op choices.  

One lesson has stayed with Elizabeth through every role she has taken on: “approach every task with a positive attitude and embrace all opportunities, even those outside my immediate role.” Often, she has found, those moments lead to “unexpected learning or, at the very least, a great story.” 

As she looks ahead to her final co-op, Elizabeth plans to continue working in Human Resources, drawn to the field’s range and opportunities to grow. Beyond that, she prefers to keep an open mind about what comes next. Rather than following a rigid plan, she focuses on learning, growth, and finding work that feels meaningful. Fulfillment is less about reaching a final destination and more about staying open to the experiences that shape who she is becoming.