"As someone who worked full time through all three of my degrees (BA, MBA and Ph.D.) and has struggled with both physical and mental health issues during school, I'm passionate about student success," says Samantha Dean, Ph.D., registrar at Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing.
Over the past 10 years, Dr. Dean worked in various roles in higher education such as an academic advisor, a workforce coordinator, manager of student operations, assistant registrar and now registrar. She earned her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political Economy from the University of Texas–Dallas in 2018 before she joined Goldfarb.
Her challenges combined with compassion, determination and a sense of humor have prepared her to be a strong advocate for students. Read on for Dr. Dean's tips and insights to maximize your success.
Q: What's the most important thing you do for students as a registrar?
Dr. Dean: I keep student records intact and accurate to support the college’s reporting, accreditation, certification, compliance and student’s degree preparation, interpretation, registration, and degree conferral. I try hard to make the registration process seamless for them. It’s a work in progress, but I’m trying. Every decision I make ultimately impacts the student.
Q: What are the students' biggest challenges right now?
Dr. Dean: The challenges I’m seeing are 1) students coming back to an in-person educational environment and people expecting them to just pick up where they left off almost two years ago, and 2) being able to financially support their higher education dreams while also financially supporting themselves.
Q: What are the most important tips for success for students?
Dr. Dean: The most important tip I would offer students is to never hesitate to ask for help. Whether that be counseling, tutoring, looking for a study buddy, etc.
They should also be realistic about what they can handle. Everyone’s “plate” is a different size so what someone else can fit on their plate isn’t necessarily what you can fit on yours. It’s okay to dream big and have big goals, but have a realistic plan on how to get there.
Q: How do you and your GSON colleagues support students for success?
Dr. Dean: I think more than anything students who are struggling want to be heard and we provide that space for them. If they’re looking for help, we provide them with options for how to move forward and help them create a plan. If they’re just looking to vent, that’s ok too.
We don’t always have to have a solution. Sometimes we just need to be a sounding board. It helps us make the appropriate changes in our methods by listening to students and what they need. We also communicate with students about the resources that we have available to them.
Q: What should a GSON student do if they are struggling personally or academically?
Dr. Dean: Never be afraid to ask for help! We have resources for them but don’t know what exactly they need unless they voice what the issue is.
Q: What advice do you have for students today?
Dr. Dean: No matter how alone they feel, someone else understands or can empathize with them. They aren’t alone. Of course, they are all unique and their situation is unique, but some people get it and won’t judge them. They should remember that and not feel bad about who they are or their experiences. I sound like a broken record, but ask for help if they need it! There will always be mean people in the world, but there are also really good people who want to provide help.
#YoureMadeForThis
