One year after arriving in Edmonton as the Belzberg Professor in Jewish Studies at the University of Alberta, Alexander Marcus has become a familiar face across both campus and the local Jewish community.
 
Since moving to Edmonton with his wife, Rachel Colwell, and daughter, Lilah, Alexander has immersed himself in Jewish communal life while helping expand opportunities for learning, dialogue, and engagement.
 
"We're really happy here in Edmonton," he says. "We feel like it's just right for us."
 
That sense of belonging quickly translated into involvement.
 
In addition to teaching Jewish Studies courses at the University of Alberta, Alexander has delivered talks and adult education programs at local congregations, joined the Beth Shalom Synagogue board, where he chairs the ritual committee, and recently became a board member of Talmud Torah Society.
 
At Beth Shalom, one of his first initiatives was advocating for supervised childcare during Shabbat morning services, making participation easier for families with young children. At Talmud Torah, he hopes to help navigate conversations about the school's future. He described his role as helping connect different perspectives while focusing on what people share rather than what divides them.
 
"My interest is, obviously, security is important, but the way that we move forward as a community is to lower the temperature and remember that we're all working together," says Alexander.
 
The same philosophy shapes Alexander's work at the University of Alberta, where he has spent the past year rebuilding and expanding Jewish Studies.
 
Alexander says his courses have been "received extremely well," though increasing awareness remains a challenge after several years without a dedicated Jewish Studies professor on campus. Many people simply do not realize the courses exist.
 
Once learners find their way into the classroom, meaningful conversations begin.
 
His courses explore Judaism, Jewish history, and contemporary issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In an environment where many students arrive carrying strong opinions and assumptions, Alexander focuses on helping participants engage thoughtfully with difficult subjects.
 
"What actually is required is to give students the time and the space to realize these things for themselves, to have these sort of light bulb moments,” he says.
 
Those moments often come when students encounter historical context they had never considered before. Discussions about the Holocaust, Jewish communities from around the world, Zionism and the founding of the State of Israel frequently prompt participants to revisit assumptions and ask new questions.
 
"My goal is to help them see that they can actually have this conversation,” says Alexander.
 
Beyond the classroom, Alexander has worked to strengthen Jewish life on campus. One of the year's most significant developments has been progressing toward establishing a dedicated Hillel Edmonton space at the University of Alberta. The effort required months of advocacy, persistence, and collaboration.
 
What stood out most to Alexander was where some of that support came from.
 
While some people assumed Jewish and Muslim interests would be at odds, he actively sought support from Muslim students and faculty members who believed Jewish students should have a dedicated gathering space. Those relationships helped open the door to broader conversations and new opportunities for collaboration.
 
As a result, an informal interfaith student group has begun taking shape, bringing together young people interested in creating opportunities for dialogue and engagement across faith communities.
 
"I'd like to highlight that some of the reason I've made progress, where not a lot of progress has been made before, is by pairing everything I'm doing with interfaith work,” he says.
 
He believes many minority communities share common interests and can accomplish more by working together.
 
"Our interests in Edmonton align," adds Alexander.
 
Looking ahead, Alexander is focused on continuing to build Jewish Studies at the University of Alberta. Plans include expanding course offerings, introducing additional instructors and laying the groundwork for a Jewish Studies minor. Donor support has already helped secure additional Jewish Studies instruction for years to come.
 
He is also incorporating community service-learning opportunities into future courses, creating partnerships with local organizations where academic study can intersect with real-world experience. Jewish Family Services is among the organizations already involved, with additional partnerships planned through Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and other groups across Edmonton.
 
For Alexander, these initiatives all point toward the same objective: creating opportunities for people to learn from one another, engage with different perspectives, and discover common ground.
 
Whether around a synagogue board table, in a university classroom or through interfaith partnerships, much of his first year in Edmonton has been shaped by that pursuit. And, in the process, he has already begun leaving a lasting mark on both the university and Edmonton's Jewish community.