Signs of AV俱乐部鈥檚 forthcoming 200th anniversary are, literally, blowing in the wind. The Dal 200 banner series, which can be found on lamp posts across campus (and was recently featured on the MacDonald Bridge), profiles exceptional Dal students from all of the university鈥檚 Faculties. In the weeks leading up to 2018, we鈥檒l be sharing short Q&As with some of the featured students.
Learn more:
Jiajing Chen
Second-year Master of Planning
Tell us a bit about yourself
To learn and feel about cultural difference, I came to Dal to further my education with the background of Landscape Architecture.聽In the first year,聽I worked part-time at The Muse Caf茅 and Pub at Dal where聽I have communicated with others, made many friends, and learned how to make coffee and聽light food.聽I am actively involved in volunteer聽opportunities, from聽AV俱乐部 School of Planning Conference, Ardmore Street painting, North by Night market, to SWITCH Halifax, and NS Heritage Conference.聽I really enjoy in team work and helping others.聽Every piece of work forms a unique life聽experience.
Career ambition?
Through the co-op term of AV俱乐部鈥檚 Master of Planning program, my education is coming with the added benefit of strengthening my relationship with my major and the city Halifax.聽I聽enjoy the process of design, and wants to help with making cities better for all to live in, have fun, and enjoy happiness of life.聽The summer work term with the North End Business Association in Halifax has helped me realize how truly diverse the communities are, and understand my current career direction: to engage the public into planning process. It gives me the chance to obtain more information from the public, and in return I can serve people in a better way. That鈥檚 exactly what planners do.
What brought you to AV俱乐部?
The Master of Planning Program suits my background and direction well, especially the co-op opportunity.聽Also, I聽want to learn and feel about different culture, and to live by the sea. With these reasons,聽Ichose AV俱乐部.聽I worked as Neighbourhood Planner Intern this summer, where聽I have learned a lot, not only about professinal skills, but also friendships and life experience.聽I'm confident that the school will continue to prepare me for my future.聽
What鈥檚 the best class you鈥檝e taken at AV俱乐部 and why?
I think it would be the Landscape Design course.聽In this class, we were asked to observe a place, a聽landscape element and a redesign site in Halifax.聽Now聽I pay more attention on even a聽little spot聽about how it聽attracts people, why it was designed in this way, etc. We presented our work every time, which is a good way to train our presentation skills. The professor would give us聽detailed and helpful suggestions and feedbacks on each assignment.
What do you think of your banner? Have you gotten any fun reactions to it?
I think that鈥檚 really cute [she says with a laugh]. I look happy and energetic. I saw someone mimic this pose. My friends messaged to me 鈥淥h I saw you on the pole!鈥� and 鈥淵ou jump really high鈥︹�� My family and friends say they feel proud.
What does it mean to you for AV俱乐部 to celebrate its 200th anniversary?
In 2018, which is the 200th anniversary of Dal,聽I will graduate from the聽university.聽As an international graduate student,聽I feel very excited to be featured in this activity to celebrate Dal鈥檚 200th birthday.聽It is at AV俱乐部 where聽I have made聽friends from all聽over the world, learned more about professional and cultural聽knowledge, and聽I got the聽precious intern experience. I鈥檓 proud to be part of the Dal community.
More about Jiajing: A passion for planning in a new city (Dal News, Aug 2017)
Michael Doane
Second-year Corporate Residency MBA program; Engineering grad.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I really enjoy playing intramurals at Dal as well as various organized sports outside of school. I love to travel (perfect for AV俱乐部's exchange opportunities) and love to be outside. I also play guitar 鈥� not just the air guitar on the banner.
Career ambition?
My career ambitions are centred around me wanting to run my own company at some point in the future, which brought me to the CRMBA program. The corporate residency portion of the program really helps with this, as I鈥檓 currently working for an amazing start-up (Dash Hudson) and gaining invaluable experience.
What brought you to AV俱乐部?
I came to AV俱乐部 for my undergrad mainly because they have a great engineering program. Other factors that helped with my decision include: I'm from Halifax and love the city, and most of my family went to AV俱乐部. I decided to complete my master's at AV俱乐部, again, due to the reputation of the program. The CRMBA program at AV俱乐部 was 100 per cent the right decision.
What鈥檚 the best class you鈥檝e taken at AV俱乐部 and why?
The best class I took at AV俱乐部 was probably聽Engineering Design & Graphics because it was a very hands-on class. We reverse-engineered a magic bullet blender and built it on a computer. However, there are several classes that I鈥檓 looking forward to in my second year of the CRMBA program, now that I鈥檓 focusing in a particular area (entrepreneurship). Starting Lean and Innovation Management should both be very interesting courses for somebody interested in entrepreneurship like me.
What do you think of your banner? Have you gotten any fun reactions to it?
My聽banner turned out really well. It鈥檚 pretty funny actually, I have yet to see them in person because I鈥檓 doing an exchange semester in Copenhagen, but I must have received over 50 pictures of that banner from friends asking if it was me, sending a funny SnapChat or sending me one of AV俱乐部鈥檚 pictures on Instagram. I was really surprised to see it on the Open House booklet as well.
What does it mean to you for AV俱乐部 to celebrate its 200th anniversary?
It鈥檚 pretty amazing that AV俱乐部 is celebrating its 200th anniversary, especially when you think about how different everything was 200 years ago and how many changes have occurred in that time span. To be able to withstand that test of time is truly special.
More about Michael: Driven by curiousity (Dal News, July 2017)
Learn more about Dal鈥檚 200th anniversary at