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At Dalhousie Engineering, you can’t miss the Gearheads. Decked out in jumpsuits, hard hats, and safety glasses, they’re impossible to ignore, and that’s exactly the point.

Leading the student group is fourth-year electrical engineering student Alexandre DesAulniers, whose signature look has become a campus trademark.

“The idea is to be inviting,” explains Alex. “It’s about being silly, approachable, and showing our excitement for what we do. We want people to feel welcome and engaged in the community.”

“And it’s not just me,” he adds. “Every one of our team members has a jumpsuit too. We’re all identifiable, I’m just a little more eccentric with mine.”

That playful energy is only one side of the Gearheads. A student-led society, their goal is to bring their peers together, celebrate engineering, and rebuild community spirit on Sexton Campus.

“Our overarching mission is community,” says Alex. “We’re out flipping grilled cheeses, we’re at student events, orientation, and sometimes we’re even invading lectures. That’s the fun side of what we do. But we’re also building connections, encouraging teamwork, and fostering pride and belonging among Dalhousie Engineering students.”

And their impact doesn’t stop there.

Through their volunteer program, the Gearheads have sent students into the broader HRM community, supporting organizations like Phoenix Youth and local junior high schools while inspiring younger students to explore engineering.

“In the last year alone, we’ve had over 250 students sign up,” says Alex. “It’s a win for everyone. Community partners get volunteers, students build leadership and soft skills, and they do it together.”

Building a Sense of Belonging

Alex’s connection to Dalhousie Engineering didn’t begin when he enrolled as a student. It started years earlier.

Long before he was leading a society in a jumpsuit and hard hat, he spent summers on Sexton Campus through youth programs and high school co-op placements, working alongside engineers and becoming familiar with the culture and community.

Those early experiences didn’t just introduce him to engineering, they made the campus feel like home.

“I knew from around grade three or four that I wanted to do engineering,” he says. “A high school co-op at Dalhousie’s facilities management really solidified it, and that’s when I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

Choosing Dalhousie Engineering was the obvious choice, especially given his familiarity with Sexton Campus. But it was the faculty’s strong sense of community that really drew him in and later inspired his involvement in student life.

“When I started in first year, there wasn’t a lot of spirit or engagement on campus,” he recalls. “People were still coming out of COVID. Everyone just wanted to study. That’s understandable, but I wanted to help rebuild that sense of community.”

Over two years later, he says he’s seen a lot of change on campus.

“First- and second-year students are way more engaged now, not just with Gearheads, but with everything happening on campus,” he says. “Seeing that growth has been incredibly rewarding.”

Leading the Gearheads

Now as team lead, Alex is working alongside seven executive members to make the Gearheads sustainable well beyond his time at Dal.

“My goal is that I could step away and the organization would still run smoothly,” he says. “It’s not about me; it’s about the community.”

And with that in mine, he hopes to strengthen what already exists including expanding volunteer partnerships, running spirit events, and continuing to build connections within Dal Engineering and the broader HRM community.

“Whether through Gearheads or something else, I just think it’s so important for students to get involved on campus. Getting out and being part of the community is so important," he says. "When you feel like you belong and when you feel engaged, it’s much easier to perform, feel proud, and give back. I think meaningful outcomes come from that.”

And for Alex and the Gearheads, that involvement has sparked many positive outcomes, both on Sexton Campus and beyond.