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By: Jenna Hobin

If you’ve ever received a call from a student to highlight the impact of giving through �Ӱ�ԭ�� University, you likely spoke with a Community Engagement Associate like Daniel King. 

Originally from Barbados, Daniel came to Ottawa to try something new. Moving to a different country was a big change, but he quickly felt at home on campus. He recalls noticing how friendly everyone was, how welcoming the community felt and how there is always something going on. For Daniel, �Ӱ�ԭ�� isn’t just a place to study—it’s a place where students find their community. 

Now in his third year studying economics with a concentration in financial economics, Daniel is also approaching the end of his first full year as a Community Engagement Associate (CEA) with Advancement’s Telephone Outreach Program (TOP). In this role, student callers connect with alumni, faculty and staff, retirees, donors and friends of �Ӱ�ԭ�� to ask for philanthropic contributions, share updates about fundraising initiatives and to thank supporters for their generosity. They also reach out to new graduates each year, helping them remain connected to their alma mater and introducing them to the perks and benefits of being part of �Ӱ�ԭ��’s global alumni community. 

For Daniel, the role has become much more than a job as it’s also helped him find a deeper sense of belonging on campus. “Here at the TOP program, there are people from the Caribbean, India, Africa and many other places. It really contributes to feelings of togetherness,” he says. 

Working in the program has also given Daniel a firsthand look at how donor generosity enhances the student experience. Before becoming a CEA, he says he didn’t realize the breadth of opportunities supported by �Ӱ�ԭ��’s donor community. “From athletics teams to experiential learning trips to research projects, there are so many funds that support students.” 

That impact is personal for him as well. “As someone who got a scholarship when I first came to �Ӱ�ԭ��, it was nice to know that someone supported me and other students to come to school,” says Daniel. 

He has witnessed how certain funds make a real difference. Daniel says the  resonates deeply after seeing friends rely on it during unexpected financial hardship. He was also inspired by the , which reflects alumni coming together to support future generations of students. 

The conversations Daniel has through TOP are a reminder that giving is about more than funding programs—it’s about the �Ӱ�ԭ�� community empowering students like him to succeed. What inspires him most is knowing that today’s generosity is helping open doors for students for years to come. 

Behind the Curtain: 

Do you have a personal motto / credo / saying? 

“Life is for living and enjoy life to the fullest.” 

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? 

“In a perfect world, I would have been an athlete playing soccer or cricket. Cricket is one of the biggest sports in the Caribbean. I also did an internship at Deloitte last summer and really enjoyed that, so maybe in the future I would enjoy doing something at Deloitte.” 

Where is your favourite spot on campus?

“I live in Residence so I like being on the fourth or first floor hanging out with friends, at MacOdrum Library or Rooster’s.” 

If you could have lunch with anyone—either living or from the past—who would it be? 

“Michael Jackson so I can ask him how he made You Rock My World as I think that’s the best song that’s ever been made.”