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Emily McAughey has had an active four years. While completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree at the Rowe School of Business, she has been a constant member of the Dalhousie Commerce Society (DCS), has helped raise funds and awareness for several charitable organizations, and has travelled twice for co-op placements.

McAughey grew up in Oakville, Ontario, but has family in the Maritimes. “I was that kid in kindergarten who knew she wanted to come to Dal,” says McAughey. “And in high school when I started taking business-focused courses I knew I wanted to study commerce.” When she arrived here, McAughey quickly began her career as a volunteer and leader. “I was a first-year representative on the DCS. I got to plan the Halloween corn mazes and the barbecue,” she says. “In second and third year I was the community chair. In third year I was given the opportunity to introduce my own initiative alongside the DCS, so I brought 5 Days for the Homeless to Dal.” 5 Days, an awareness and fundraising campaign for people experiencing homelessness, had never existed east of Montreal, and Dalhousie is still the only Atlantic university to participate. McAughey explains the impact the campaign had on her: “I didn’t really recognize the problem of homelessness in Halifax before participating. Now I’m much more aware, just walking down the street.”

Aside from 5 Days, McAughey helped with fundraising for other charitable initiatives of the DCS, and became Vice-President Academic in her last year. She organized the mentorship program that pairs first-year and fourth-year Commerce students, and acted as a mentor herself. “We had the most students ever this year,” she says. “There was a really engaged first-year class.” McAughey also served on the Bachelor of Commerce Program Committee and the search committee to appoint a new dean to the Faculty of Management. “Getting to represent students on these committees is a big role,” she says. “The Dean search made me feel most connected to the faculty.”

Even while volunteering on societies and committees, McAughey was dedicated to her studies. It was easy for her to choose a major: “I had an idea that marketing was what I wanted to do.” She cites Dan Shaw as a faculty member who had an influential role on her academic choices. McAughey has used her marketing skills in exciting places: she did two co-ops in Toronto, one at a commercial production company called Industry Films Inc and then at MTV/Nickelodeon. Her last co-op placement was back in Halifax with the Atlantic Film Festival, as the coordinator for the Outdoor Film Experience. McAughey notes that the AFF group were great to work with: “I learned a lot from them.”

Reflecting on her degree, McAughey says, “I’d like to recognize everyone who helped me in the four years—the professors who made me passionate about marketing and the team I got to work with on the DCS.” Although she would love to stay in Halifax, McAughey may head back to Ontario to seek a job in her field, and might eventually do a master’s degree in the U.S. Her track record indicates that wherever she ends up, she will keep learning, leading and helping others.