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Mar 06 2013

Travel Abroad Opportunities at Dean College

josh headshot

Hello Dean community – Josh Singer writing, the Dean College blog administrator, social media guy, just all around crazy-awesome person (90% crazy, 10% awesome), etc…so the reason I’m writing here today is because I’ve lived a pretty sheltered life. Let me elaborate–I have been really limited in the amount of things I’ve done and seen, as far as travel goes. Barely been off the east coast. Definitely not happy about it. I attended Suffolk University for undergrad and had the opportunity to study abroad in Barcelona. Yea–Barcelona, Spain. Didn’t do it. Why? I dunno. Wish I could go back in time and change that. If you ever have the opportunity to study abroad somewhere cool…JUST DO IT. So when I hear people in my network of friends/acquaintances are doing something fun or going somewhere really cool, it’s intriguing to me. That segues into what this blog post is about…

No photoshopping here – Dean College gives students the opportunity to go to some real cool places.

Dr. Rob Lawson (super cool faculty member here at Dean College) runs the Honors Program at Dean. Something you may not know–Dean has some awesome travel abroad opportunities (for example, Prague in ’08, UK in ’09, Italy & Greece in ’11, France & Spain in ’12). Students have gone all over the place; bunch of different continents, done a lot of cool things. (Check out their facebook photo albums.) So I was really excited when Dr. Lawson told me he has two students (one an aspiring journalist and one who has a passion for photography) who wanted to blog and photo-blog their 10-day trip abroad (they leave in a few days, approx. 50 Dean students are going with Dean faculty to some cool places I’ll list below.)

So I’m here to introduce you to the two students who will (when they have wifi) be blogging and posting photos during their trip.

“My name is Wakaba, from Japan. I’m a sophomore Liberal Studies major at Dean. I love traveling and meeting new people, and one of my big dreams is to be a backpacker, travel around the world and write a journal! I’m interested in intercultural communication using English as a second language. I would love to work in the multiple cultures environment and help to connect people with a different background:) “

“HI! My name is Liz Feenan and I am a second year Environmental Science major here at Dean College. I am very passionate about photography and that is what I want to do in my future. It is my goal to one day work for National Geographic as a traveling photographer. Traveling is a very big hobby of mine and I want to go to as many countries as I can. I have enjoyed myself at Dean College and next year I am attending Roger Williams University as a Marine Biology major. I am just an outgoing person who loves to take photos of anything and everything!”

So there you have it. Liz & Waka will be enlightening you readers with thoughts and photos from their travels as they zip through Zurich, Switzerland, Verona, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Nice, Montecarlo. Pretty cool, right? This would be a great time to subscribe to the blog, then you won’t miss a thing – the blogs will come right to your email.

That’ll do it for me–thanks for reading. Oh, and Dr. Lawson, if you’re reading this, let me know if any faculty chaperones drop out – my bags are packed! -Josh

Jan 29 2013

Welcome Back Bulldogs!

Hi Guys! Cassie Balzarini here, one of several new bloggers writing our little hearts out this spring semester. On behalf of not only myself and the other bloggers, but the entire social media team – I’m excited to welcome you back to Bulldog Nation!

The beginning of a new semester brings many exciting opportunities for college students across the world and things here in Franklin are no different! I’m just here today to take a few minutes out of your day to highlight some of the multiple chances you all have as students to get involved, make a difference, help yourself and have some serious fun.

It can all be broken down into 4 basic choices:

Join A Club
Apply for a Leadership Position
Attend an on campus event
Talk to an Adult

Now let’s get a little more specific.

Join a Club
Did you know that Dean College has over 20 clubs and associations on this very campus? Even more so did you know that ALL of these clubs are open to anyone with an interest? With meetings taking place at night after classes have finished there’s really no reason not to try out a club that piques your interest. The Student Activities Committee has meetings once a week on Monday’s at 7:30pm in the Campus Center Golder Room ( that’s the big one on the top floor!) The Residence Hall Association (of which I’m an Eboard member!) also meets once a week on Monday’s at 8pm in Chapman House. All clubs and their meeting times can be found on today@dean!

Apply for a Leadership Position
You probably know someone on campus who is currently holding a leadership position here. From Orientation Leaders and Community Advisors to SGA Senators and Club Eboard members the opportunities to be looked up to and make a difference on campus are plentiful. Residence Life and Student Activities are accepting applications for these positions in the ’13- ’14 school year now!

Attend an on Campus Event
Now, I’m going to be blunt for a moment here but anyone claiming that there is nothing to do around here either needs to stop looking at the ground 24/7 or needs to get their eyes checked because the SAC alone have provided students with more than enough nighttime and weekend activities. Last week alone we had Wing Night, Make your Own Dog Tag and a Dance! All SAC sponsored events and details about them can be found in the “Campus Events” section of today@dean. Now, if walking across campus to the CC is too far a journey for you (Yes JOHA residents I’m talking about you) then talk to your RD or CAs! Residence life hosts dozens of events a semester in both the residence halls and other locations on campus! A bunch of other clubs are hosting events too, so read the plasma’s and check today@dean so you can get off your butts and have some fun!

Talk to an adult
I know, I know! We’re all in college now we feel like adults and in many ways we are! But, there’s always something to be learned from those who have a bit more life experience than us. Dean College’s campus is swarming with a professional staff both fresh out of college and otherwise who would love to get a chance to know some of the students better! Plus, it’s never to early to begin building a professional network! Admissions counselors and professors, residence directors and academic advisors and even the lovely lunch ladies greeting us all day long at the caf - Everyone here has a story and everyone here has some knowledge and wisdom to give. So step in and say hello when your RDs/Advisors/Professor’s office door is open, take the time to ask Tina in the caf how her day was and NEVER be afraid to reach out to anyone when you find yourself in over your head and/or needing some help. They may not be college students now but they sure were at some point!

So good luck this semester bulldogs! I hope you’re all able to get the most out of this 2-4 year experience!

Oh, and don’t forget to do your homework

- CB

Tagged campus, clubs, college, college clubs, college student, dean, dean college, leadership, student activities

Jan 06 2013

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Dean College

Not a Numbers Game at Dean College

Very often, by many different people across campus, I get asked “how many facebook fans does Dean College have?” or “how many twitter followers do we have?” I answer, and usually that is followed up with “is that good?” People often think in numbers. It’s a fair question since I am the “facebook genius” or the “social media guy” or whatever anyone else wants to label me. But if you asked me to name the one thing I really like about Dean College, as an employee and someone who is on campus everyday, I’d say it’s that we do not think in numbers.

Dean College Admissions Building

I have the privilege of working in the Admissions building with our awesome admissions counselors and staff. It would be very easy for this group of people to get caught up in numbers. Yes, we strive to bring in a certain amount of students, just like McDonalds strives to sell a certain amount of burgers and Ford strives to sell a certain amount of cars. But the difference is (the “Dean Difference, if you will), we are a non-profit institution, and no one walks away profiting off of a students education. Our admissions staff genuinely care about every individual that commits to Dean. It’s not “get em in the door and never

A used car salesman…

see them again.” We are not a used car dealership, and in fact, it is likely that you will maintain a relationship with the counselor who admitted you to Dean. That is unheard of at most institutions.

Another benefit to my job is I get to connect with all different people across campus. Business school staff, dance school, student activities, athletics staff; etc. they all want to see something tweeted or facebooked about them, or “hey can we make a Youtube video for this…” The one consistency I see when I meet with all of these people? A passion for our students. A commitment to their success. You’re not Student #12091. You’re Mark Olivio, studying criminal justice, from Meriden, CT.

You may be reading this, and you may not be buying what I’m selling – and that’s OK. It may sound very market-y and salesman-ish. I’ve been educated in social media, emerging media, communications, google, web sites, etc. etc. I’ve read the books about how to reach a mass amount of people on facebook, get massive amounts of followers on twitter, etc. But that is not who I am or what I do at Dean. It’s not about facebook, or pinterest or this very blog- those are just the mediums I use to help connect with our students, alumni, parents of students, etc. The one thing those all have in common? They are all people. They are all individuals with different backstories, all unified by a connection somehow to Dean College. So to me, it doesn’t matter how many facebook fans or twitter followers or instagram likes Dean College has – because I don’t get caught up in numbers. I guess it’s just contagious around here.

Josh Singer is the Online Marketing Coordinator at Dean College. Follow him on twitter @JoshSinger33, and don’t believe a word he says – the only reason he doesn’t get caught up in numbers is because he is REALLY bad at math.