the
eporter Vol. CXXII Issue 9
Stetson University | DeLand, Fla.
Get to Know Your New Dean of Students
Inside this issue: ‘Soulful and Untainted’ A look at The Hand Art Center’s newest exhibition, Page 6
Q&A with Lynn Schoenberg
‘A Team with Plenty of Heart’ Men’s Basketball Fall Recap and Spring Preview, Page 10
Photos credit: Shadee Rios
Katie Dezes Editor-in-Chief Dean of Students Bio Education: • B.S. in Psychology, Lynchburg College • Ed.S. and M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling, University of Florida Past Work Experience: • Was the Chapter Development Consultant of Kappa Delta National Sorority • Worked at the Counseling Center at Santa Fe Community College and the Career Resource Center at the University of Florida • Has held five different titles at Stetson University: Began as the Coordinator of Health Education and Wellness and was most recently the Executive Director of Holistic Wellness Fun Facts: • Enjoys exercising and yoga • Would rather be outdoors than indoors • From Long Island, New
York • Favorite colors are green and purple • Loves to read • Was president of her sorority, Kappa Delta • Has a “cat child” named Dobby • Was a member of her college dance team Q: For those who don't already know, what are the responsibilities of the Dean of Students? A: That’s a really good question. *laughs* I’ve been asked that a lot lately. The main job responsibility of the Dean of Students is to be the chief student advocate. It’s actually in my job description, which I really love. In addition to that, I provide leadership to five departments at Stetson, which are a little bit different than the departments former Dean, Rosalie Carpenter, worked with. I work with Student Development and Campus Vibrancy (which includes SGA and Greek Life), Wellness and Recreation, The Counseling Center, Health Services, and Community Standards. I’m also in charge of
the on-call response system for students. Q: What makes you most excited about your new position? What makes you the most nervous? A: I’m definitely most excited that I will have more public student contact than I did in my last position, which I also loved, but was mainly behind closed doors. I love going to student events, talking with students, and just hearing what’s going on. I can already feel the difference in the first few days of school, and I just love being part of that energy. And the thing that I’m most hesitant about...like any student affairs professional, I want all of our students safe and in one piece. So, my biggest concern is always that something really bad will happen to one of our students or a group of our students. You have to not think about it all of the time to keep going, but, statistically, it will happen at some point, so we have to be prepared. But it’s the thing that none of us want to deal with and none of us want to happen.
Q: As Dean, you are expected to ensure student success. How do you personally define student success? A: For me, student success is individually defined by different students. For some students, that means straight As, involvement in everything on campus, and community service. For others, it means passing, graduating, and getting through. So, it’s really important when working with a student who is struggling or stressed to figure out what success means to them. I tell students often that my goal is for you to succeed here. I want our students to do well academically, to feel connected to the campus, and to feel like they are growing and developing. No matter what an individual’s goals are, I hope for those three things for all of our students.
“I keep hearing from students that they don’t feel heard.”
Q: What can the Stetson community expect from its new Dean? What are your
Full Q&A on Page 2
Photo courtesy: Lynn Schoenberg