Arts Alumni Stories

Laurier's Faculty of Arts has the largest number of graduates of any Faculty at the university, with close to 50,000 alumni living and working around the world. Hear from these four alumni on how their Laurier Arts experience inspired them to lead lives of leadership and purpose.

Visit the Faculty of Arts Centenery page to see more of the celebrations taking place throughout the year.

Alexander Boehm (BA '07)

It feels like a lifetime ago that I graduated from Laurier in 2007 with an Honours BA in History. My time at Laurier coincided with a return to Canada after living abroad for several years. While I applied to multiple universities, I was drawn to Laurier’s Faculty of Arts for its reputation for excellence, as well as my strong family ties to Kitchener-Waterloo.

Studying history at Laurier was an infectious experience. Not only did I have the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers who shared a passion for history and politics—each bringing their own unique perspectives—but I also benefited immensely from the expertise and openness of Laurier’s professors. I am especially grateful to Roger Sarty, Eva Plach, Erich Haberer, Steve Connor, and Alex Opalinski, whose teaching left an indelible mark on me and helped shape my path toward a career in international relations.

Laurier prepared me well for the next step in my academic journey: an MA in International Relations at the Freie Universität Berlin. Experiencing the more rigid academic tradition in Germany made me all the more appreciative of Laurier’s culture of openness and intellectual curiosity.

Since completing my MA, I have been fortunate to live and work across the globe in a variety of roles. I began as a political risk analyst, advising on Central and Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet region for a multinational company specializing in the adaptive reuse of historical landmark properties. I then worked as an anti-corruption researcher at Central European University in Budapest, contributing to publications and conducting fieldwork in Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Later, I found myself in the UN system, with postings in Rome and Addis Ababa.

Most recently, I’ve been working on a democratization and governance project in Ukraine that aims to increase civic awareness and engagement. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career so far—an opportunity to see firsthand the impact of informed and engaged citizens in shaping democratic reform.

I have Laurier to thank for preparing me for a career in international relations, particularly in Eastern Europe, and for fostering the curiosity and skills that continue to guide my work today. 

Dan Towers (BA '11, MA '12)

I’m a proud graduate of Laurier—earning my BA in Communications in 2011 and my MA in Communications in 2012. During my undergraduate studies, I was actively involved in campus life, serving as a Head Icebreaker, coordinator of the Ambassador program, and a volunteer with the Student Leadership Centre. While completing my master’s degree, I had the opportunity to work as a Teaching Assistant and also served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Wilfrid Laurier University Graduate Students’ Association.

Many of my closest friendships were formed during my time at Laurier, including a group of friends I met in first year while living in Willison Hall—we’ve remained close ever since. In fact we all got together for a Blue Jays game this past summer, still making memories together.

Since graduating, I’ve built my career in the advertising industry and am currently a Group Account Director at dentsu, one of the world’s leading global advertising agencies. 

Kanwar Brar (BA '18)

Graduating from Laurier in 2018 with a BA in Political Science (with distinction) was a defining moment in my journey. During my time there, I had the privilege of serving as the President & CEO of the Laurier Students’ Union, while also holding positions on the University Senate and the Students’ Union Board of Directors. One of the most rewarding roles I held was working as a Residence Life Don, where I had the chance to build a close-knit community with 35 first-year students. I also gave back through volunteering with Shinerama and supporting Orientation Week events—experiences that taught me the importance of service and teamwork.

Some of my fondest memories include late-night study sessions in the 24 Lounge, open mic nights at Wilf’s, and countless intramural games that brought our community even closer. I met lifelong friends—my roommates—at Laurier, and since then, we’ve travelled extensively and continue planning future adventures. After graduating, I worked for the federal government before heading to law school in Toronto. Today, I’m proud to be a lawyer. My Arts degree gave me a strong foundation in critical thinking, communication, and collaboration—skills that have been essential throughout my career.

Alexanne Wingert (BA '24)

I graduated in 2024 with a BA in Languages and Literatures, with a French major and an English minor. Some of my favourite memories at Laurier include working as an Instructional Assistant for an incredible professor and making connections that will last a lifetime. My degree pushed me to grow and learn in more ways than one.

Today, I work as a Bilingual Human Resources Data Administrator. My Arts degree helped me to get here by developing the skills I need to do my daily tasks. Also, as one of my professors once said, knowing multiple languages is your “foot in the door” which certainly proved to be true for me.