Student of the Year’s remarkable advocacy and initiatives reshape the university landscape

At Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE), there are certain students who leave an enduring impact on our campus community. In recognition of his exceptional contributions to advocacy and community building, an outstanding graduate, Qusai Murad, was awarded the coveted title of Student of the Year at Convocation 2023

Qusai showed exceptional leadership through his numerous roles – showing us all that there is no limit to what you can achieve at CUE. Qusai participated in peer coaching, advocating for American Sign Language (ASL), serving as management representative on the CSA General Council, Vice-President of Operations and President of the Concordia Management Union (CMU), and he was co-founder of the Self Defence Club. 

Qusai’s work has shaped the lives of countless students on campus, but he says it has enriched his life just as much. His passion for wanting to help his fellow students first led him to peer coaching, where he offered support and guidance to first year students during the pandemic. “I would set-up online meetings with first-years and explain how the university operates and offer them advice. When the pandemic hit, it soon became a bit of a social life for many because we had to social-distance. Some of our meetings were just to chat – we even had a birthday party for a student online, where six of us sang Happy Birthday!“

Bridging the communication divide for the hearing impaired

Teaching American Sign Language (ASL) is another expression of compassion Qusai showcased at CUE. Learning ASL enables individuals with hearing impairments to bridge the communication gap and connect with the world around them. 

Speaking about the reasons for getting involved in ASL, Qusai explains, “I was in a government building applying for a work permit and there was this guy in front of me, he was about 18-years-old with his mom, and he was deaf. I was listening to his mom talking to another lady, while she was waiting to take her turn. She was telling her how hard it was for her son to get a job, stay at a job and make friends because most people don’t know sign language – it broke my heart. 

“I sympathized with him, because I also knew what it was like to go to a country where you don’t know the language. But the difference is that I can just learn the language – for him that is not an option.” – Qusai

Among his many amazing professors, Qusai says Jeff Fitzner stood out for not only his great teaching in accounting, but for getting him involved in starting courses in American Sign Language (ASL) on campus. Qusai learned sign language then became a strong advocate for the hearing impaired. “I believed we should all learn sign language, so we launched ASL extracurricular courses and organized a guest speaker on campus. In order to get more funding we partnered with 10 other clubs and unions. It was a great experience and I’m hoping to coordinate more ASL courses in the future.”

Equipping students with vital self-defense skills

Recognizing the importance of safety and empowerment for students, Qusai and a fellow undergrad took the initiative to establish CUE’s first Self-Defense Club on campus. Through regular workshops and training sessions, he equipped students with practical self-defense techniques that he learned in his 10 years of kick-boxing. “A lot of the students couldn’t afford to go to a gym or buy the equipment necessary – the cheapest gyms were $120 a month. Once the Concordia Student Association scoped out the costs involved, they saw my background and asked me to coach,” Qusai explained.

After obtaining certification to teach, Qusai began teaching students the basics of self defense, and soon his following on campus began to grow. “Women in particular were drawn to taking the class, and began inviting their friends along,” says Qusai. 

Spearheading Initiatives at the Management Union

Qusai’s role with the CMU was excellent real-world experience that nicely aligned with his Bachelor of Management degree with a focus on leadership. “At first I was hesitant to run for Vice President of the CMU because I wasn’t sure I could balance that level of responsibility with my studies, but it was manageable and taught me so much. We had a chance to do a lot of events, so it ended up being a lot of fun.” 

Qusai’s leadership abilities soon shone brightly when he was appointed to lead the CMU after the the current president graduated. While president, Qusai enhanced student services and spearheaded initiatives that benefited the entire student body.

Management degree at CUE paves path to success

Qusai says that his management degree and his resume showcasing his work at CUE is already paying off. He’s been sought out for many positions, and has recently accepted a position as a management trainee with a large corporation. 

Qusai believes that his journey in higher education is far from over. He contemplates attending law school, driven by his passion for immigration law. Although Qusai’s parents come from Palestine, he was born in Jordan due to the war. At the age of 21, he relocated to Canada and embarked on an extensive university application process, which inadvertently provided him with an intensive crash course in immigration law.

CUE becomes a haven of connection, belonging, and community 

Qusai was present at almost all of CUE’s events and he always encourage others to attend – he brought students together, fostering a sense of belonging.

Qusai feels fortunate to have found his community at CUE. “I would describe Concordia as a small community, where everyone knows one another – even if you’re from a separate faculty, we’re always bumping into each other in the Tegler.”