When Madison thinks back to her days at Cape Breton University, one moment stands out clearly, as if it happened yesterday: sitting in her very first class, listening to Professor Lee-Anne Broadhead spark a discussion on the ethics of chocolate.

“It was the first time I realized how something so ordinary could open up deeper conversations about fairness, justice, and global responsibility,” Madison recalls. “That class set the tone for my entire education at CBU.”

From 2015 to 2019, Madison balanced the life of a student-athlete, representing the women’s soccer team while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts. The discipline of sport, along with the small, engaging classrooms and the encouragement of professors like Lee-Anne gave her the foundation she needed to thrive not only in academics but in her life beyond the classroom.

Inspired by those early lessons in ethics and justice, Madison pursued opportunities that would broaden her horizons. In her third year, she secured an internship with Reaching Critical Will, an organization advocating for disarmament and arms control at the United Nations in New York.

“Cape Breton University truly shaped who I am today,” she reflects. “The support of the community, the friendships I built and the lessons I learned, both on the field and in the classroom, were transformative.”

Today, Madison is an Ontario-qualified lawyer and currently works in policy with the federal government. Her work has spanned human rights, international law, housing rights, and employment law, building on the values first sparked in that CBU classroom. She also serves on the Board of Directors at Amethyst Centre Ottawa, furthering her commitment to leadership, governance and community service.

And while her career has taken her far from the soccer field in Sydney, CBU remains close to her heart. “I can’t put into words how valuable my time at CBU was for me,” she says. “That’s why I love to remain part of this CBU community.”

For Madison, it all began with one professor, one question, and a discussion about chocolate that would inspire her pursuit of justice for years to come.