Alumni in their own words - Alex Thiessen (CMU '16)
This installment of Alumni in their own words features Alex Tiessen who graduated from CMU in 2016 with majors in English and Counselling Studies. In March 2026, Alex will return to CMU as its new Director of Advancement.
Where has your life taken you since you left CMU?
Right after I graduated from CMU, my life brought me straight back to campus. I took a role at CMU as an Admissions Counsellor, an opportunity that opened up in part because I had been a student ambassador. That work really set me up well. It allowed me to lean into my natural ability to connect with people—working with churches, meeting families, and inviting students into CMU. I quickly fell in love with that work and discovered that admissions and advancement were places where my skills and interests aligned.
From there, I took on the role of Director of Admissions and Development at RJC High School in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, where I have been for seven years. In a smaller institution, I was able to do a bit of everything: meeting with families, recruiting students, connecting with churches, and working closely with donors. That experience helped me build strong relational and communication skills, and it grounded me in work that nurtures students toward lives of faith, service, and peacemaking. Those years were integral to my growth and to where I find myself today, preparing to return to CMU.
What of your experience at CMU continues to influence your life and/or work?
My time at CMU continues to shape the way I understand vocation and faith. I've always believed those two belong together, and CMU reinforced that conviction. A big way I express my faith is through my work—how I treat people, the values I hold, and why I invite others into institutions like CMU. I'm not inviting people into something just for me, but into a community that fosters values of faith that matter deeply within the Anabaptist tradition.
Academically, my double major in English and Counseling Studies continues to influence my work every day. From counseling studies, I learned how to meet with people and help them make decisions. From English, I gained strong communication skills. These are all transferable skills that I pulled out of CMU—and that continue to use every day.
What is a memorable story from your time at CMU?
Many of my most meaningful memories from CMU revolve around relationships with professors. I think often of Sue Sorensen and Paul Doerksen, who were especially good at really seeing students—naming strengths, identifying areas for growth, and walking alongside us. With their encouragement, I pursued two independent study courses, one in children's literature and another in Indigenous literature.
Those experiences were a turning point for me. They allowed me to express my creativity while meeting academic goals, and they affirmed my curiosities and gifts. It meant a lot that professors were willing to invest that time and trust in me. That experience captures what I value most about CMU: a place where teaching, mentorship, and student investment truly matter.
What are you looking forward to in your new role at CMU?
As I step into my new role as Director of Advancement, I'm most looking forward to reconnecting with the CMU community. I'm excited to engage with alumni and donors and to hear their CMU stories—what shaped them, what mattered most, and why they continue to support this place.
I'm also eager to help people connect their passions with meaningful opportunities at CMU. Whether inviting new supporters in or deepening existing relationships, I look forward to working with the Advancement Team to ensure that support for CMU is both impactful for the university and meaningful for those who give.