Dean College Homecoming
Join us for a weekend of Bulldog and Demon pride! Homecoming is your chance to celebrate all things Dean, connect with classmates, cheer on our teams, share your alma mater with family, and make new memories. Unless otherwise noted, all events are open to alumni, families, students, faculty, staff, and friends of all ages and don’t require advance registration.
Schedule of Events
Schedule subject to change. Please check back for updates.
Friday, October 3
3:30 PM Men’s Soccer vs. Lasell (Longley Athletic Complex)
6-8:30 PM Performing Arts Alumni Panel & Reception (Main Stage in the Student Center)
Celebrate the arts at Dean! Join us for an inspiring evening as alumni representing theatre, dance, and the wider performing arts industry return to share their experiences, career insights, and advice. From stage to screen to behind-the-scenes, our panel will highlight the many creative paths a Dean education can lead to. After the discussion, enjoy a reception with light fare and cash bar where you can reconnect with fellow alumni, network with students, and celebrate the power of the arts at Dean. There is no cost to attend. Advance registration is required.
6:00 PM Women’s Volleyball vs. Simmons (Pieri Gym)
6:00 PM Spirit Celebration (Trophy Room in Memorial Hall)
Sponsored by the Student Government Association and the Dean Activities Board, stop by to grab some Dean-themed swag and get ready to look the part for the weekend!
Saturday, October 4
8:30 AM Alumni Softball, Baseball, and Lacrosse Games (Longley Athletic Complex)
Alumni vs. Bulldogs: A Homecoming Tradition! One of Dean’s most beloved Homecoming traditions returns as alumni from Softball, Baseball, and Lacrosse step up to compete against today’s student-athletes in spirited, friendly matchups. The games are filled with energy, laughter, and some bragging rights, but at the heart of it all is a shared bond across generations.
We invite all alumni, families, students, and friends to come together on the sidelines to cheer, reconnect, and celebrate this special tradition. Whether you’re rooting for the legends of yesterday or the Bulldogs of today, you’ll be part of the excitement that makes Homecoming unforgettable!
9:00 AM Field Hockey vs. Regis (Grant Field)
9:00 AM Historical Campus Tour with Dr. Rob Lawson (Meet at Student Center doors near parking lot)
Join Dr. Lawson as he brings to life stories from Dean's past, highlighting the people, places, and moments that have shaped the Dean community. From its founding years to pivotal milestones that defined the campus we know today, this engaging tour offers both new insights and surprising details. Whether you’re a longtime Demon or Bulldog or visiting for the first time, you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for Dean’s legacy and the history that continues to inspire its future. This leisurely walking tour will last under an hour, will be mostly outdoors (weather permitting) and will conclude at the Green Family Learning Library Commons just in time for participants to continue their dive into history at the next event beginning at 10:00 AM.
10:00-11:15 AM History in Your Backyard: Dean Student Filmmaker Showcase (Morton Family Learning Center)
Join us for a special screening of History in Your Backyard, a citizen-historian video series co-created by Dean faculty members Dr. David Brandon Dennis (Professor of History) and Dr. Rob Lawson (Professor of History), along with Prof. Gregg Seibert (Assistant Professor of Media Studies). Originally launched in 2020 to bring history to life for virtual classrooms, the series explores local historic sites and shares stories through short, engaging films curated by the New England Journal of History.
Abby Kelley Foster
This film explores the life and contributions of 19th century abolitionist and feminist Abby Kelley Foster of Uxbridge, MA, whose house was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
A Tale of Two Neighborhoods
This film compares the disparate impact of 1960s urban planning initiatives on two neighborhoods in Providence, RI: Benefit Street and Lippitt Hill.
The Lizzie Borden Effect
This film explores the sensationalist 1890s trial of Lizzie Borden in Fall River, MA and how it’s been represented in the press, the arts, and media since from her time to the present.
The Spirit of Metacom
This film recounts the story of King Philip’s War in Colonial Massachusetts from the indigenous perspective of Wampanoag Sachem Metacom (“King Philip”). It focuses on the Battle of Indian Rock in Wrentham (now Franklin).
George Angell and the 1918 Flu Pandemic
This film tells the story of the 1918 Flu Pandemic through the eyes of George T. Angell, Vermont Native and Dean Academy alum, who was stationed at Camp Devens when the pandemic exploded in Fall 1918. Special emphasis is on the letters he wrote home to his parents during this time.
Located in the Green Family Library Learning Commons, the Morton Family Learning Center is a dynamic facility home to a dedicated staff, professional academic coaches, comfortable study spaces, state-of-the-art technology and advanced assistive learning technology tools.
11:30 AM–2:30 PM Alumni Connection Corner (Lippert Field)
Swing by the Alumni tent to make a difference and have some fun!
Donate gently used professional attire to support our Career Closet, or update your contact info for a chance to win exciting prizes, including a Dean Swag Bag, New England Revolution tickets, or a pair of season tickets to Dean’s theatre and dance performances.
While you’re here, share your memories and advice with today’s students, snap a photo for social media, and enjoy Dean merch and sweet treats. It’s the perfect spot to reconnect, give back, and celebrate being part of the Dean family!
CAREER CLOSET DONATIONS
Remember preparing for that first interview or big job after Dean? Today’s students are in those same shoes, and you can help them step in with confidence. We’re collecting new or gently used professional attire and personal care items for our Career Closet: blazers, dress shirts, slacks, skirts, dresses, and accessories that are timeless, workplace-ready pieces students will feel proud to wear (think what you wish you had back then, not what your grandma or grandpa wore to the office 😉). Donations can be dropped off at the Fan Shuttle or the Alumni Connection Corner between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. Your contributions will help Bulldogs step into their futures with confidence and style. Donors to the Career Closet will be entered to win great prizes.
11:30 AM–2:30 PM Fun Zone and Cookout (Lippert Field)
Dean Dining Services will be offering tasty food combos for purchase, cash or card. Current Dean students with an active meal plan, use a meal exchange swipe for no fee! Be sure to stop by the Fun Zone for Dean swag and snap a photo on a photo keychain.
11:30 AM–2:30 PM Tailgating and 21+ Tent (Lippert Field)
Beer, wine, and seltzers will be available for purchase at the 21+ Tent. Please be prepared to show proof of age. Information regarding tailgating policies can be found on the Dean College Athletics website.
12:00 PM Football vs. Plymouth State (Lippert Field)
Featuring the Class of ’75 Butchie Williams MVP of the Game
4-6:00 PM Alumni Happy Hour (Boomer’s, lower-level Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center)
Don’t let the Homecoming fun end when the sun goes down! We’re taking over Boomer’s, the long-time campus hangout tucked into the lower level of the (now) Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center. Whether you remember it as Boomer’s or as the late-night spot in the old Campus Center, this was always the place to grab a burger after rehearsal, catch a game, and make memories with friends. Now it’s your turn to relive the tradition with fellow Bulldogs and Demons!
Your admission includes three drink tickets (beer, wine, seltzer), plus delicious food, music from across the generations, and a photo booth to capture all the moments. Reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate your Dean pride in true alumni style.
This event is 21+. Please be prepared to show proof of age. Tickets are $45 per person; $25 Young Alumni rate (graduates from 2015-2025). Advance registration is required.
8:00 PM Student, Family & Alumni Bingo (Atrium, lower-level Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center)
Open to students, families and guests, and alumni, join the Dean Activities Board in Bingo to win some fun prizes!
FAQs
Where do I park?
All campus lots are open during Homecoming. Space is limited at the Longley Athletic Complex and will be open on a first-come, first-served basis. We anticipate that parking at Longley Athletic Field Complex will be at full capacity. For your convenience, we are offering shuttles that will be departing from the Dean Hall Parking Lot beginning at 10:30am and running continuously through the end of the game. We highly encourage the use of the shuttle.
Will there be food available?
Yes. The Cookout Tent will have food available for purchase.
What will be available in the 21+ tent?
There will be a variety of beer, wine and seltzer available for purchase.
Where is the Longley Athletic Complex?
69 Maple Street, Franklin, MA 02038
Dean College Campus Map
Where can I stay?
The following hotels are conveniently located close to the Dean College campus.
DoubleTree by Hilton*
11 Beaver Street, Milford, MA, 01757 - 508-478-7010
Foxboro Residence Inn by Marriott
4 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA 02038 - 508-541-8188
Hampton Inn
735 Union Street, Franklin, MA 02038 - 508-520-2999
Home2 Suites by Hilton Boston Franklin
725 Union St, Franklin, MA 02038 - (508) 203-1726
Proctor Mansion Inn
36 Common Street, Wrentham, MA 02093 - (877) 384-1861
Renaissance Hotel at Patriot Place
28 Patriot Place, Foxboro, MA 02035 - 508-543-5500
Residence Inn Boston Foxborough by Marriott*
250 Foxborough Boulevard, Foxboro, MA, 02035 - 508-698-2800
Sonesta Select Boston Foxborough Mansfield*
35 Foxborough Boulevard, Foxboro, MA, 02035 - 508-543-5222
Still have questions?
Please contact Joanne Coluccio, Director of Alumni Engagement, at alumni@dean.edu and 508-541-1656, or the Office of Student Activities & Leadership Development at sald@dean.edu. We look forward to seeing you soon!