Q

You came to CBU to play on the Capers Women’s Basketball team all the way from Italy. How did you find CBU, or did CBU find you?

A

After a long career as a basketball player in Italy, I was ready for an international experience. Fabian McKenzie, the CBU Women’s Basketball Coach and the assistant coach of Canada Basketball, watched me play. It actually happened that Canada played against the Italia National Team during that time. I had played for team Italy from the age of 14 until 21. Fabe became interested in recruiting me after talking with my Italian coaches and reached out to me.

Q

What was your first thought when arriving in Nova Scotia? Did you know right away that you would love it in your new community or did that take some time?

A

Before my arrival in Nova Scotia and my first time in North America, my flight got cancelled because of a storm, so I spent a night in Philadelphia and flew here the day after. That was not a great sign! However, as soon as I landed, I loved it. I remember the staff at the Halifax airport being very nice. Fabe came to pick me up at the airport in Halifax, and we talked the whole drive back to Cape Breton. I had a good feeling about this place. Eight years later, I can say that I was not wrong.

Q

Did you form any special relationships or bonds during your time at CBU?

A

I have found my second family, and I am so happy to call this place my second home. I have gained friendships and memories that will last forever. As a student-athlete, if you are not at the gym, you are in class, and if you are not in class, you are at the library, so you really spend a lot of time with your team who become your family. Playing with the same team for four years has given me lots of lifelong friends. To add, one of my teammates, Alison Keough, and I stepped into the fieldhouse together on day one. We have been beside each other in the locker room for five years, and we left the gym together. She has become my sister, and we are in contact daily.

Q

What are your top three memories from your time at CBU?

A

Winning the AUS Championship on March 5, 2017, will always be my best memory at CBU. It’s hard to describe it; we worked towards that goal for four years, and we can say that we did it together. That was one of those experiences of a lifetime that will always connect us, and we will never forget about the feeling of raising that banner and everything we’ve been through to get there.

Graduations. Both times, I was so fortunate that my family flew in from Italy to be here with me. It was wonderful to show them my life at CBU. We had an amazing time on this beautiful Island.

One of my favorite memories was in my second year. I came back to CBU after the summer, and my parents and sister came with me. We drove into the parking lot outside the gym, and the team that just had a scrimmage ran towards me, and we hugged after a whole summer without seeing each other. It warmed my family’s hearts to see how close we were as a team and how happy I was to be back.

Q

What does being a CBU Alumnus mean to you?

A

Once a Caper, always a Caper – I will always bleed orange. Every time I come back, it just feels like home. I am always in touch with my CBU family, and I know that I always will be. I love when we are able to organize some Alumni events; it’s great to look back, share our stories and laugh together.

My team is my family, and I am always in contact with them. Also, I still now and then get in contact with my professors and staff. When I have time to go back and visit, I always love to go around and see who’s there to have a chat with and catch up. Fabe and the assistant coach, Doug Connors are really good at keeping the CBU Women’s Basketball team connected, and one of my favorite times of the year is the annual pre-season tournament where the Alumni family all get back together.

Q

You have been accepted into the PhD Program in Digital Transformation and Innovation at University of Ottawa. Can you explain to our readers more about that program? What do you hope to accomplish once you are finished with that program?

A

A dream of mine has always been to teach in academia, so my end goal is to become a professor. When I finished my Masters’ thesis, I knew that I wanted to pursue a PhD, but I was unsure what area. These past three years working in the innovation ecosystem have given me a wonderful experience which sparked my passion about it and my decision to focus my research on consumer journey and experience. I truly believe that being human-centered is an evolving topic that is becoming a daily discussion; this was my push to learn and do more about it. The peculiarity of being an interdisciplinary program will give me the opportunity to expand my knowledge in a broader scheme and from different perspectives.