The Rooney Years: 27 Years of Transformation, Growth & Putting Students First

A New Era Begins

When Dr. Rooney and her family arrived on campus in 1995, Dean College was in a place of uncertainty. It was a challenging time for higher education in general, and Dean was no exception. Enrollment was small, buildings were aging, finances were low and what the future looked like was unclear.

It was a time that required action—and a strong leader to make it happen.

“I was on the search committee, and I met Dr. Rooney in an interview for the presidency with a former Chair of the Board, Janet Guidrey,” said Dean College Board of Trustees member Terry Robbins. “It was obvious by the end of the interview that she was the right person to lead Dean. It was a very low point in Dean’s history. The school was struggling both financially and enrollmentwise, and had gone through a few presidents. We were excited to have someone come in who had vision, worked hard and had a lot of energy.”

W ith a wealth of experience in leadership positions at institutions across the country, including Babson College, Reed College, Colgate University and Indiana University, Dr. Rooney immediately took action to face these challenges head-on, become part of the Dean family and make her family part of Dean’s. To make it a true family affair, her husband Dr. Gerry Shaw joined the faculty as an associate professor of business, later becoming the Dean of the Dean R. Sanders ’47 School

“I went to our 50th reunion during Commencement, and I watched Dr. Rooney giving out diplomas. She knew every student graduate; she hugged every student and they hugged her. There are no words to describe it.”

JAN KOKES ’64, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

of Business, and their son, Paul—only seven months old at the time they started at Dean—grew up on campus, and was cared for by Mary Ann Dacy ’58.

That community is what has long set Dean apart, and Dr. Rooney made sure that it was what would drive her decisions for Dean. The College embarked upon a self-exploration process that involved board members, faculty, staff, students and alumni. The result was a student-centric philosophy, founded from Dr. Rooney’s beliefs and background, that placed students as the central focus from every perspective. This approach became known as The Dean Difference and has become woven into everything done at the College throughout the past 27 years—and paved the way for the future.

W ith this mission firmly in place and with students at the center of every decision she would make, Dr. Rooney took to action and kicked off a period of transformation and growth across every aspect of the College.

A Growing Campus And Reputation

This evolution began with the physical transformation of campus, modernizing infrastructure and technology, constructing new spaces and renovating existing ones to elevate the student experience. Residence halls were built and rebuilt, including two that burned down within Dr. Rooney’s first year of arrival. The Campus Center was renovated to become a hub of student life, including the addition of the Smith Dining Center and the stateof-the-art Main Stage theatre. The E. Ross Anderson Library grew into the Green Family Library Learning Commons, home to the Morton Family Learning Center and Theodore and Cynthia Berenson Center for Writing, Mathematics and Presentation Excellence. Athletic fields and facilities were upgraded and expanded. Dean became one of the first campuses to get Wi-Fi.

Dr. Rooney’s first intern, TJ Paparazzo ’96, worked closely with her in the President’s office and remembers observing how this growth started within weeks of her arrival on campus. “The small steps that she did early on helped to plant the seeds for the larger goal, and it was interesting to see those start to come to fruition,” he said. “Everything was for the future, preparing for what’s going to happen over the next couple of years.”

A strong focus was placed on strengthening the academic curriculum, expanding offerings and attracting experienced faculty. Dr. Rooney championed introducing four-year baccalaureate degree programs in addition to the two-year associate degrees, and officially launched Dean’s first bachelor’s degree in 2000—the BA in Dance. Since then, Dean has added more than 30 bachelor’s degree and associate degree programs. More than 93% of current students are baccalaureate students, and the College’s reputation has grown as a four-year school, affirming the strength of the curriculum and the value of a Dean degree. Notable programs were expanded and introduced, including Communications, Dance BFA, Sports Broadcasting, Sport Management, Theatre and more.

These programs wouldn’t be possible without the faculty and staff who teach and support the Dean students every day. Dr. Rooney established a culture based on personalized learning services, one-on-one attention, mentorship and meeting students where they are to help them get where they want to go. Just as she herself knew every student’s name, she encouraged faculty and staff to get to know each student and their story in order to foster student success. And this support extended to the faculty and staff themselves. In 2016, the Rooney Shaw Center for Innovation in Teaching was opened in honor of the Rooney Shaw family’s 20 years of dedication to Dean College. Thanks to the support of donors, the Rooney Shaw Center for Innovation in Teaching provides a space for faculty to learn, experiment and stay on the cutting edge of active teaching strategies, as a symbol of the impact that Dr. Rooney and her family have made on Dean.

Another key component of the curriculum that Dr. Rooney championed was an emphasis on career preparation and experiential learning opportunities. In 2018, Dean received a grant from the Davis Educational Foundation to launch the Dean Career Advantage, a holistic approach that embeds career preparation into everything students do at Dean, from classes and campus involvement to mentorship and support. One hundred percent of bachelor’s degree students complete an internship, and real-world applications are embedded into the curriculum to ensure that students not only get a quality education, but that education prepares them for an ever-changing workforce.

“ I recall on campus Dean had a flag that said ‘Never give up, never settle.’ That was the theme of my academic and professional career when I first got there, and that has always carried with me,” said member of Dean Board of Trustees Eric D. Lee, Esq. ’08. “Dean taught me to embrace studying and embrace the process, to push professors to answer questions and to always be prepared. Just being prepared, never settling and constantly being your own advocate. That’s a tenet that Dr. Rooney embraces herself but also projected onto the Dean community.”

D r. Rooney also spearheaded Dean’s exclusive academic partnership with Kraft Sports + Entertainment—a partnership that began in 2009 and was recently renewed for another 10 years. Through this partnership, students have unprecedented access to internships, jobs and opportunities to learn from industry executives and go behind the scenes with the New England Patriots, New England Revolution, Gillette Stadium, Patriot Place and more. Dr. Rooney’s incredible vision for this partnership and her tenure at Dean were honored by Robert and Jonathan Kraft and the entire Patriots organization prior to the January 2, 2022, game at Gillette Stadium.

Dr. Rooney also took Dean Athletics to a new level, growing the program to become an active member of the NCAA Division III for 16 athletic teams. With 32 percent of current students involved in a sport, both the Kraft partnership and the athletic programs open up even more opportunities for student-athletes and bolster academic programs aligned with careers in sports.

But perhaps one of the biggest challenges small, private colleges across the country face—and what Dean faced in 1995—is achieving financial stability and sustainability of the institution. Dr. Rooney not only stabilized Dean’s finances, but also grew them significantly. Through many years of executing strategically sound fundraising and financial decisions, Dean has run a budget surplus for 26 of the past 27 years—including the past 11 consecutive years—and has grown the endowment from around $7 million to $70 million. This is just one of many ways Dr. Rooney ensured a strong, thriving future for Dean and its students.

The Dean Difference

Not only did Dr. Rooney establish The Dean Difference as a guiding mission for the College itself, but she embodied it in everything she did. Every decision, every action was made around the question, “How will this help our students?,” and she instilled the same values in every member of the Dean community. But even more than that is the way she interacted with the community on a daily basis.

“It’s hard to put into words how dedicated she is to the school, to the students,” said Jan Kokes ’64, member of the Board of Trustees. “You walk with her down Awpie Way, and every student that comes by, she knows their first name. She goes to all the functions, and she’s got a lot to be proud of. She’s got a great legacy, and her presence is going to be missed.”

Dr. Rooney was a constant presence at athletic, academic and performance events. Her door was always open, and she always made time to speak to members of the community. She’s invited every faculty, staff member and student to attend celebrations in the President’s residence, from meetings and holidays to Board of Trustees dinners and occasions like Sophomore Celebration. She stopped to say hello to students when walking across campus, challenged them to step out of their comfort zones and checked in on those who might be having a hard time. She gave countless pep talks, tossed countless tater tots during Late Night Breakfast and donned countless Halloween costumes.

Students and alumni recall receiving handwritten birthday cards and letters of recommendation for graduate school and law school from her. She met the football team in the parking lot in the early hours of the morning when they returned home from winning their first bowl game, and brought dishes to an alumnus in his first apartment. She even lent out her own winter coat for the day, when a student’s first snowfall in New England found them without a jacket.

“She immersed herself into all aspects of being part of the community,” said Paparazzo. “You could see it, when she was sitting in the Campus Center or sitting at lunch. It put her in the middle of the student experience, and I think that went a long way.”

But Dr. Rooney’s focus was not just on students—it was also on their families. Just as she brought her family with her to campus, all members of the Dean community are part of her family. She knows parents and family members by name. In hard times, she and Dr. Shaw have attended funerals and wakes to support members of the community, while in good times, they’ve extended invitations for family members to join them for dinner or to celebrate an event. And no matter what, she made sure that each person felt part of the community and knew that their students were being taken care of.

“S he had an impact on the whole community,” said Jane Schatz, parent of

“I bumped into her in the cafeteria and she asked me how my classes were going. I said, ‘They’re going pretty well.’ She says, ‘Pretty well is not good enough.’ She told me to come by her office to talk about my grades, my classes and my goals. But the idea that ‘pretty good is not good enough’ always sticks out for me. When I was leaving Dean to get my bachelor’s degree, I remember she told me, ‘Make sure you sit up front, take your hat off and don’t be late.’ I was never late.”

Jimmy Schatz ’11 and member of the President’s Parent Advisory Council (PresPAC). “She made parents feel that Dean will really help their child achieve and get to a higher level. You could leave knowing your child is in a place that really cares and where they are being taken care of, and that’s the difference to me. I attribute a lot of my son’s successes to Dean.”

No matter all she has accomplished, Dr. Rooney always emphasized that it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her family and those around her. Dr. Shaw, who has been there every step of the way, and their son, Paul, who grew up on campus, have been just as integral to Dean’s story for the past 27 years. So have the Board of Trustees, the senior management team, and every faculty and staff member who goes above and beyond to deliver The Dean Difference to students every single day. The alumni who attended Dean at every stage of its 157-year history and continue to keep the Dean spirit alive. The parents who support their children—and Dean— over the years. And of course, the students, for whom this is all for. Every member of this family has played a part in making Dean what it is today.

A Lasting Legacy

As Dr. Rooney’s incredible 27-year tenure as President of Dean College comes to an end, she leaves behind a lasting legacy and an impact on all who have interacted with her over the years.

“ My father always said, ‘A lot of times you receive blessings, but there are times where you become the blessing for others.’ And I believe that’s what she became for a lot of us,” said Dr. Dariel “DT” Henry ’99. “To create an environment where we could all come to hone our skills, develop ourselves, figure out who we were and what we wanted to be and do it in a quiet space ... all the connections we made, the network, just getting us out of our comfort zone and away from home ... that changed all our lives. She became a blessing for so many of us.”

But even more than that, Dr. Rooney has set the stage for Dean’s future—to continue building upon the progress the College has made, and above all, to continue putting students first. “She’s raised Dean to another level,” said Robbins. “Our reputation has grown, but she always kept The Dean Difference and the mission in mind. I’ve met alums and prospective donors, and the one thing we’ve heard from people is that they’re using the same words: ‘If it wasn’t for Dean, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’ Dean was always a place that nurtured students, and it still is.”

Thank you, Dr. Rooney, for your incredible service and dedication to Dean over the past 27 years. Thank you for never settling, never giving up and never losing sight of your dreams!

“One snapshot that comes to mind is Dr. Rooney and Dr. Shaw carrying Paul, who was a few months old at the time, walking down Awpie Way where we were supposed to meet them. It was their first day to come to campus. And that’s the picture that’s always stuck in my head.”