Dean Dana: The Inaugural Thomas Harriot “Dean For a Day”

A main tenet of the Honors College spirit is the way its students keep their fingers on the pulse of administration, faculty, and peers on campus as leaders to create enduring change for all students. If you had to ask any student about goings-on in campus administration, EC Scholar Dana Shefet didn’t just have her finger on the pulse—she was the heartbeat! “This was one of the most unique, individualized opportunities so far in my college experience,” she says.

On April 11th Dana was chosen to act as the inaugural “Dean For A Day” at ECU’s largest college—the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences. “My mathematics major is located within the THCAS, allowing me to interview for the opportunity to take on Dean William Downs’ role,” says Dana. While Dana took over the Dean’s desk, Dean Downs took a seat in all of Dana’s classes, à la Freaky Friday.

In this position, Dana represented all Honors College and College of Arts and Sciences students to gain insight into the administrative side while introducing positive change from the student perspective. “Acting as Dean gave me the ability to see the leadership required in running the largest and most diverse academic college at ECU,” Dana says. “My three main goals I wanted to accomplish as Dean were making students feel like more than just a number within the college, showing students the career opportunities they have present with their degrees, and allowing more department access to teacher reviews written at the end of the semester about courses.”

Like the beginning of any turbo-charged day, Dana enjoyed breakfast with the Dean’s office staff before diving into her responsibilities as head honcho. The Thomas Harriot administration certainly gave her the full experience: Dana was in demand, booked all day for meetings! She immediately began with John Stiller, Chair of the Faculty, then met with her Department Chair in Mathematics, Dr. Johan Hattingh—now from the other side of the desk. Dana spoke with College Advising and held an interview with The East Carolinian on her experience as a rare Student Dean. Before the morning was through, even Provost Dr. Ron Mitchelson stopped by.

Luckily, her packed schedule broke for lunch with Dean Downs and five students Dana hand-selected from within the College of Arts and Sciences to represent their peers. The hefty check-ins didn’t let up in the afternoon. She first met with Dr. Derek Maher, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, and then with Career Development Counselor John Stowe. Dana tied up the afternoon neatly with a Dean’s Student Leadership Council meeting and discussed the insight she gained with Dean Downs.

With the shoe on the other foot, someone needed to take notes and answer questions for the classes that Dana would miss in her newfound position. Dean Downs substituted for Dana in her Chemistry 1160 class, his first chemistry class in thirty-four years. After the fact, Dana said Dean Downs was certainly taught about the realm of a department he hadn’t been exposed to as a political science major. “Although the class deemed challenging for Dean Downs, he gained a serious appreciation for students in my class who were mastering electrochemistry principles,” says Dana, laughing.

Dana’s “game plan” she prepared beforehand translated this opportunity into keen insight to maximize her experience. She feels the insight she gained can create a positive impact with the collaborative power of fellow students on campus. “The aspect that most surprised me after meeting with different members of the college was the complex system of positions that make up the college. If more students knew about the structure and the different people they could turn to for help besides their advisor within the college, they could be a lot more successful and feel like more than just a number. The faculty within THCAS and ECU in general is here to assist the students and truly want to learn what is best for the students to succeed and thrive.”

After seeing administration operations from the inside, Dana attests to the strength of Thomas Harriot’s degree versatility—one of her three goals. “Students believe that if you major in Biology, you either become a teacher, a doctor, or work in a lab. There are so many career paths available through your degree here that pursuing what you truly want to spend your life doing feels incredibly accessible with the administration’s help.” Dana speaks highly of the communication between the college and students, however she noticed where students can engage with campus administration to enhance this connection. “The post class surveys we take to assess professors was only ever seen by the professor himself and no one else in their department. Whether students are praising a professor or leaving remarks for improvement, change will not be made or monitored unless another party is involved to ensure their students are receiving the best education possible.”

After Dana’s day as Dean closed, the influence from the student-administration collaboration was already felt. During their morning coffee alone, Dean Downs and Dana spoke at length on how to further integrate the Honors College into the College of Arts and Science, resulting in adding an Honors College representative position on the Dean’s Student Leadership Council. Dana’s enthusiasm to employ her newfound experience into lasting change is electric:

“I gathered so many good suggestions and made amazing connections with faculty throughout ECU. I am eager to start implementing them in the college with the help of Dean Downs and the rest of the super supportive faculty I met being Dean. As the day developed, it was an invaluable experience for both Dean Downs and I to learn about life on the other side. I highly recommend everyone to apply to be Dean For A Day!”

To learn more about how Honors College students are engaged with the campus and community, you can contact us at 252.328.6373, email us at honorscollege@ecu.edu or visit us on ECU’s campus at the Mamie Jenkins Building. To keep up to date on Honors College events and student stories like Dana’s, follow us on social media.