The following story is part of our Volunteer Spotlight series, celebrating alumni and Queen’s friends whose time, leadership, and dedication strengthen the Queen’s community here and around the world. Through these stories, we recognize the many ways volunteers contribute – through mentorship, branch leadership, advocacy, events, and beyond. By sharing their experiences, we hope to express our gratitude, highlight the impact of volunteer engagement, and inspire others to get involved.
Kate Jennings, Sc’21, CIB’21, and Max Yuen, BNSc’’25, recently started volunteering with their local alumni branches, filling the roles of Young and Recent Alumni Leads. They’re spreading the word to Queen’s graduates that connecting with each other, wherever they now live, can be a great way to meet new people in a new city and help with career development.
Jennings, who moved to Calgary nearly three years ago to work in the energy sector, and Yuen, who works as a nurse in Vancouver, have spent part of their summers planning Young Alumni Welcome Events for September. The events are an opportunity for graduates to connect with local branches, maybe for the first time, and see the benefits that come along with joining the Queen’s alumni family.
We spoke with Jennings and Yuen about their roles and their advice to newer graduates like themselves. (Answers have been edited for length and clarity.)
What inspired you to become a Young and Recent Alumni Lead?
Yuen: The Queen’s community is very strong, and I wanted to share in that community and also show others that even though we may not be physically in the university area anymore, we can still stay connected with each other. There is more you can get from the community after you graduate.
Jennings: I owe a lot of my career success to my time at Queen’s. I wanted to give back. When I saw an opportunity to join the more formal alumni program and they were reserving a spot for someone to engage with young and recent alumni, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get involved, and also gain a better understanding of the Queen’s alumni network in Calgary and help build that out.
What’s your advice to recent graduates who are new to your cities and looking to make personal and professional connections?
Yuen: Come to some of our events, for sure! Here on the west coast, even though we might be farther away from Queen’s, you’ll find alumni everywhere. Try to seek new opportunities and get out of your comfort zone. I’ve met so many people being part of this group, and it’s made my life feel more rich.
Jennings: Calgary is really driven by relationships, so I’d say don’t be afraid to reach out to fellow alumni. People are so willing to give their time and experience to others. Come to an event, see who else is out there in your Calgary Queen’s network. It’s an automatic connection point, so don’t be afraid to take advantage of that. You never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll gain from the conversations that you have.
You are both relatively new to your volunteer positions, but what are you enjoying so far?
Yuen: It’s been really rewarding, being able to reflect on shared experiences, but also moving towards a mission and goal: working together to expand the alumni community and build these events. Working as a nurse, organizing events is not something I typically do, so I’m learning new skills too.
Jennings: A great benefit to volunteering is that it’s rounding out skills and experiences, especially leadership skills, so that’s the professional side of it. Personally, it’s continuing to develop my network and also validating my desire to contribute to a strong Queen’s community.
What does the alumni community mean to you?
Yuen: Definitely a sense of belonging, and it’s also a sense of pride, knowing Queen’s is a reputable institution, and I had a chance to be part of it. It’s also a sense of nostalgia. Some of the best friends I have from Queen’s, even though they live on the other side of the country, I consider them friends I will have the rest of my life.
Jennings: To me, it’s a community founded on shared experiences and a common interest in helping others and giving back to the Queen’s community. And also appreciating the network that comes along with it.
Any final words of encouragement for alumni to join their local branch, or even to volunteer?
Yuen: I think if you’ve enjoyed your time at Queen’s, it’s good to give back to the community. If anyone gets involved with their branch, they won’t regret it!
Looking to meet fellow young Queen’s grads in your area? Explore upcoming young alumni events on the events page, and check back as new events are added.
