Dr. Paula Rooney will leave Dean College on May 31, 2022 (Photo Courtesy of Gregory Chalk, VP of Marketing at Dean College)
Upon Dr. Paula Rooney’s announcement that she will conclude her time as the 13th president at Dean College after 27 years, I had the chance to talk to her about her decision.
Dr. Rooney explained that she does not plan to retire but rather “conclude her presidency.” Dr. Rooney said she is focusing on getting from now until the end of the academic year and would not comment on what her plans will be after she departs on May 31, 2022. Currently the College, led by the Dean College Board of Trustees, is in the early process of hiring Dean College’s 14th President.
Prior to her arrival at Dean, Dr. Rooney served for ten years as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Babson College. In addition, she formerly held senior academic and administrative appointments at Reed College, Colgate University, and Indiana University before becoming the President of Dean College in 1995.
Since Dr. Rooney’s arrival at Dean, the College has seen many improvements over the years. Dean grew from 600 students to over 1,100 students with a goal of topping out at approximately 1,200 students, in order to maintain the charm and benefits of a small, residential college. Dean currently has an endowment of approximately $65 million, some of which has enabled the College to add more baccalaureate programs as well as renovate buildings such as the Campus Center and Dean Hall and build Horne Hall and Woodward Hall. Dr. Rooney is also proud to have seen Dean move from the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) to Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), where it currently competes in 16 varsity sports.
When Dr. Rooney was asked about the biggest challenge she has faced while President at Dean, she instead focused on how any challenge might seem big at the time, but once the task has been completed, the challenge was not as bad as originally feared. “It ebbs and flows as the institution grows. When you are living through them, is it a challenge? Certainly. But when you step back to see the big picture, we weathered them.” When asked specifically about the challenges of dealing with COVID-19, she acknowledged that it has been challenging and has also placed a strain on every aspect of the American education system.
Dr. Rooney believes that it is a testament to the College and The Dean Difference that has allowed Dean to survive and thrive during challenging times and continue to have an influential impact on Dean graduates. “The Dean Difference is that personal touch every day that makes every student’s story different.” Dr. Rooney also remarked that she consistently hears the same message from Dean alumni - they would not be where they are today without the experiences they had at Dean.
That appreciation often leads to generous financial gifts to the College. For example, Dean College recently received an gift of more than $3 million from alumnus and longtime benefactor, Dean R. Sanders, who graduated from Dean Academy in 1947. This donation was the largest estate gift in the College’s 156-year history. In addition, due to Sanders’ nearly seven decades of loyal support with his first donation dating back to 1951, Dean College has decided that his longtime giving will be recognized with the naming of the Dean R. Sanders ’47 School of Business. Rooney explained that this momentous gift will be used towards improving the student experience at Dean.
When Dr. Rooney was asked what she will miss most about Dean College when she leaves on May 31, 2022, she immediately replied, “The students.” She continued to say about her work, “It can be hard sometimes, but it can also be fun and exciting because at the end of the day, you’re doing things that make it possible for students to earn a Dean College degree.”
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