College campuses are known as the quintessential gathering places for intellectual conversation and discovery. They’re also a perfect place to discover the love of your life.

From President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to Prince William and Kate Middleton, many couples around the world can trace their love connection back to a college campus.

Wayne State alumna and senior leadership development consultant Danielle Bessant, Ed. ’05, M.Ed. ‘11, met her husband, Kevin, CLAS ’03, while enrolled in an introductory mathematics class at Wayne State University.

“He sat behind me in class,” Bessant said. “He struck up a conversation and, ever since, we’ve had a connection. That connection developed into a beautiful friendship.”

The two — who didn’t become an exclusive couple until December 2005 — would meet mornings before class in the basement of the Student Center Building. They did everything together, including joining student organizations on campus. This, according to Bessant, deepened their bond.

But it wasn’t until Kevin went off to law school in Nebraska that their friendship blossomed into romance. The couple maintained a long-distance relationship until Kevin graduated.

In 2009, after attending a close friend’s wedding and reception, Kevin proposed.

Naturally, the couple chose Wayne State University as the backdrop for their engagement photo session (pictured). Locations included the College of Education — where the two first met — McGregor Memorial Conference Center and the Max Jacob House.

“Wayne State is such an important part of who we are as individuals and it was the place we met and became a couple,” Bessant said. “Without Wayne State, there would be no ‘us’ as a unit.”

The couple wed on May 14, 2011, in the Dominican Republic. They have a 2-year-old daughter, Kree, and a 5-year-old pug, Otis.

They plan to spend this Valentine’s Day relaxing and having dinner at home.