Leading with heart: A story of leadership and service
Author: Tim Jaques
Posted on May 15, 2024
Category: UNB Saint John
As Angel Côté graduates from the University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) Saint John campus with a bachelor of science degree in biology and psychology, her journey through university life is marked by her academic pursuits and a deep commitment to community engagement and leadership.
Hailing from Grand Falls, her story is one of dedication to making a difference.
“I’ve always been very involved, even in high school,” Côté said. “It started from a young age, and I’ve carried that desire to get involved with me through university.”
She started at UNB during the pandemic and said she had difficulty adapting to online learning.
“But then, at the end of my first year, resident assistant applications came out,” she said.
This pivotal moment set her on a path that defined her time at UNB.
Becoming resident assistant and later head resident assistant, she embraced the opportunity to create a supportive and inclusive community within the university residence halls. Her love for service to others also led her to volunteer with the Promise Partnership, where she dedicated her time to tutoring high school students from diverse backgrounds.
Côté became the first student wellness coordinator with the Student Representative Council (SRC).
“I knew I wanted to continue to help people and make a positive change, not just in residence, but campus-wide,” she said.
She focused on planning wellness events and worked on food insecurity initiatives such as the Smart Bag Program, which later evolved into the SRC Food Pantry.
She later rose to Vice-President Student Life, overseeing the positions of wellness coordinator, orientation chair and marketing chair within the SRC and planning major student events. Additionally, she collaborated closely with the wellness coordinator to plan wellness events and initiatives and worked to revitalize campus life after the pandemic.
Being organized helped balance her academic and extracurricular life.
“I relied a lot on digital calendars, planners, sticky notes, those sorts of things, just to keep me on top of things,” she said, adding that she creates a spreadsheet at the start of the year with all her deadlines, tests and labs in one place to help her stay organized and plan accordingly.
Her exemplary leadership and dedication to service were recognized with a UNB Graduating Student Leadership Award, highlighting her efforts to enhance the student experience and foster a sense of belonging within the university community. She will also receive the UNB Saint John Leadership award at convocation.
“It’s important to put yourself out there and meet new people,” Angel said, reflecting on the importance of mentorship and volunteering in her personal and professional development.
“It’s always great to have connections and people that you can look up to if you ever need support, and also to be someone that people can rely on if they need support.”
Côté’s commitment to empowering others through education extends beyond her university experience. She plans to pursue further studies to become a teacher.
“I just hope to continue to participate or lead extracurricular activities in the school and the community as well,” she said, reflecting on her aspirations to inspire and empower future generations of students.