For Robyn McIsaac and her mother Susan, Mount Saint Vincent University is far more than just an educational institution – it’s been an integral thread woven through the fabric of both their lives, spanning multiple decades.
A long-term relationship
Susan McIsaac’s connection to MSVU began at Mount Saint Vincent Academy, where she completed her early education. Years later, as a mature student and mother, she returned to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, graduating in 1984. Her decision to return to the university was driven by the bond she felt to the institution’s mission.
“For my mother, there was never a question of going anywhere else,” Robyn says. “She had such a strong connection to the Mount from her time at the Academy. She felt deeply connected to the community there.”
Soon after completing her degree at MSVU, Susan began working at the university’s Alumni Office, helping to coordinate events and maintaining ties with graduates worldwide. The position was a significant shift from her first job, where she took on the challenge of feeding wolves at the Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park as part of an academic research project. One particular highlight of her time at MSVU involved chauffeuring a VIP visitor from the airport in her family’s vehicle, which was carefully cleaned and prepared by her husband for the occasion. It’s a story that remains a cherished memory for the family.
Carrying on a family tradition
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Robyn began her own journey at MSVU in 1985. While she started in computer science at her father’s encouragement, she eventually discovered her true calling in public relations.
“Through taking various courses, I met people in the PR program and thought, ‘This is absolutely what I want to do’, ” Robyn recalls. After taking time to work in Toronto midway through her studies, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in 1994 and her PR degree in 1995.
The mother-daughter connection with MSVU took on new meaning when, after successfully launching her career and gaining experience at employers including the Nova Scotia Government, and Emera, Robyn returned to the university as Director of Public Affairs.
In a surprising coincidence and what some might see as kismet, Robyn’s MSVU office was located in the same space where she had once helped her mother stuff envelopes for alumni events. Even her assigned parking spot was the same one her mother had used years before.
Entrepreneurial spirit
In 2012, drawing on her MSVU education and subsequent experience, Robyn launched her own firm, PR Hive. Eventually, the firm grew into a partnership with Heather Hanson, a fellow MSVU alumna who Robyn became close friends with while the two were studying at the university. After the business was acquired by Crestview Strategy in 2021, Robyn spent three years leading business development for the firm in Atlantic Canada.
Now, Robyn’s career is coming full circle as she prepares to return to her entrepreneurial roots. As she launches her own practice once again, Infuse Public Relations, she looks forward to choosing projects that align with her values and spending more time with family, including her partner Rick’s two daughters and their growing families.
“I’m so grateful to have had clients that mean that much to me,” she says, reflecting on her years of building strong relationships in the industry. Robyn says her success has been built on reputation and word of mouth – a testament to the relationship-building skills she first developed at MSVU.
A deep appreciation
For Susan, who suffered a severe hemorrhagic stroke at age 48 resulting in a speech-limiting condition known as aphasia, the determination and strength she cultivated at the university helped her defy doctors’ predictions. Despite being told she would never walk again, Susan proved them wrong through sheer persistence – a quality she continues to demonstrate in her daily life.
When asked what MSVU means to her mother today, Robyn says Susan would respond by placing her hand over her heart to express the depth of her connection to the institution. Her appreciation for the university is also honoured on MSVU’s Women’s Wall of Honour, where Susan’s name stands as a testament to her legacy thanks to a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift from Robyn and her father. Susan also is credited with starting the university’s first alumni golf tournament while working at MSVU, and the trophy for the event is now named in her honour.
“The Mount really shaped who I am,” Robyn says. “Starting with my mother’s experience at the Academy, it has influenced how I was raised and the person I’ve become. The Mount taught us both that nothing needed to stop us but ourselves.”