Today@Dal

Audrie-Jo McConkey (Class of '03) is no stranger to the idiom "practice what you preach." She does just that every single day.

Audrie-Jo knows that youth are the future and believes that it is our responsibility to ensure they have the opportunity to reach their full potential. That's why she spends her free time volunteering for various organizations and initiatives that focus on young children and youth.

Audrie-Jo has been involved in supervising over 15 different high school science fair projects and has been a judge for regional and national science fairs and 4-H fisheries projects. She has also been involved with the Junior Achievement Program, visiting Grade 9 classrooms to educate students on the significance of math programs, as well as a similar program called Females in the Workforce, which introduces science-based careers to young girls.

She strives to expose youth to Dalhousie's Faculty of Agriculture as much as possible, by hosting high school classes in the Aquaculture facility and participating in Ag Zone and Open House. As well, Audrie-Jo provides volunteer opportunities to undergraduate students seeking experience in the field.

Audrie-Jo loves kids. She admits providing educational opportunities for youth is one of the most rewarding experiences she's ever had. As if all of that weren't enough, Audrie-Jo sits on the board of the Faculty's Alumni Association and is a member of the Fishermen & Scientists Research Society. She's been a very active member of the Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists, chairing a number of committees. She is involved with LaLeche League Canada, providing support for nursing mothers and actively fundraises for the IWK, Canadian Cancer Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colchester and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

One of Audrie-Jo's newest commitments is with the Rotary Club of Truro. Joining this past year, she has already signed-up as deputy chair of the International Service Committee. Audrie-Jo has been described as, "a great asset to the club."

Among all of these volunteer activities, Audrie-Jo maintains a strong dedication to her day job on campus: shellfish technician and lab instructor in the Plant and Animal Sciences Department of the Faculty of Agriculture.

Despite being involved in such a variety and quantity of activities, Audrie-Jo adamantly gives every task her undivided attention. She contributes to the best of her ability and always follows-through with her responsibilities.

By the end of the day you would think Audrie-Jo would head home and put her feet up. She may deserve it, but that's far from reality. After work Audrie-Jo goes home for her most important and rewarding job, being a mother. Along with husband Mike (Class of '02), Audrie-Jo has three young boys: twins Theo and Sam, as well as Reid.