From Bus Stop Connections to Global Networks, First Generation Laker Builds Alumni Community

From as far back as he can remember, Nipissing University alumnus Steve Arsenault has carried a belief in the power of education. As a 2015 graduate of Nipissing University’s Bachelor of Education (Concurrent) program and Wilfrid Laurier University’s Bachelor of Arts in Society, Culture and Environment, Arsenault is proud to be the first in his family to attend university—a milestone shaped by the values his parents instilled early on.

“For most of my childhood, I wanted to be a teacher so I could help others pursue education,” he shared. “Although I chose a different path than teaching, I am grateful that my work still contributes to education and the opportunities it creates for others.” 

While his academic experience laid a strong foundation, it was the lessons beyond the classroom that left a lasting mark.

During his time in North Bay, Arsenault balanced his studies with two jobs, an experience that while challenging, shaped both his perspective and his path. One evening, while waiting for a bus after class, he struck up a conversation with a woman who was also heading home. They spoke briefly about life, school, and his goal of putting himself through university.

When the bus reached her stop, she approached him one last time with a warm smile and the offer to cover his next meal. 

“It was only ten dollars, but it was worth so much more than that,” he recalled. “It felt so special to be seen and to receive generosity from a complete stranger. I never saw her again, and I wish I could tell her how much that meant to me.”

That simple act of kindness has stayed with him ever since, becoming a quiet but powerful influence on how he approaches both his work and his relationships.

“That small act of generosity reminds me of how powerful even the simplest gestures of support can be,” he says. “It’s something I carry with me in my work today.”

After realizing in his third year that classroom teaching wasn’t the path he wanted to pursue, Arsenault found himself drawn to a different side of education; one rooted in connection within community, and student experience. 

“I had fallen in love with student engagement in higher education,” he says. “I was deeply involved in campus life, holding almost ten student leadership roles, working two jobs, and somehow maintaining a social life. University was a life-changing experience for me, and I knew it was an environment I never wanted to leave.” 

Today, Arsenault has spent more than a decade working in higher education, with a focus on alumni engagement, helping graduates stay connected to the communities that helped shape them. 

“Alumni who feel connected often choose to mentor students, volunteer their time, or support initiatives that open doors for others,” he said. “Those contributions help sustain scholarships, expand opportunities, and advance the research universities carry out every day.”

To him, alumni engagement is about more than staying in touch, it’s about belonging to something bigger.

“It’s about building relationships and strengthening community,” he said. “When alumni stay connected, they become part of a network that supports students, advances ideas, and contributes to work that can improve lives far beyond campus.”

Media Contact:
Khia Beauchesne
Communications Officer, Future Student Focus
Nipissing University
(705) 474-3450 ext. 4035
communications@nipissingu.ca