Last summer, Dean College was among the 245 recipients slated to receive a total of $39.3 million in grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) aimed at supporting vital research, education, and public programs in the humanities. This is Dean College’s first grant application submitted and award received from NEH.

With this funding, College faculty are developing two courses in the history of science that incorporate hands-on labs: “History of Science” and “Beyond Henrietta Lacks:  Race and Medicine in 20^th Century America.” Both courses are set to pilot for the 2018-19 calendar year. 

Project Director and Associate Professor of History at Dean College, Dr. David Dennis spearheaded the development of the courses, alongside Project Co-Director, Dr. Jessica Pisano, as well as Dr. Rob Lawson, who will teach the course on race and medicine. The three have been hard at work this past year, developing both courses.

 “Culture shapes science, and science shapes culture,” said Dennis. “From early ideas about the Earth’s place in the cosmos to popular attitudes toward climate change and cancer treatment, the humanities are essential for how we understand the past and present of modern scientific society. This project furthers the ongoing revitalization of the humanities for the twenty-first century at Dean College and beyond. The opportunity to combine history courses with lab science underscores Dean’s record of educational innovation. I look forward to working with science and humanities faculty, as well as external scholars, to bring this groundbreaking curriculum to our students.”

For the next two weeks, the College will host two symposiums, one for each course, and will bring in four outside scholars, two from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one from UMass Amherst and one from Emmanuel College, to help design the curriculum. 

“The real innovative part here, what I’m most excited about, is that we’re going to couple a humanities course, what would otherwise have been a standard 3-credit course, with a science lab, that allows student to have hands-on experience with the science that’s being discussed in the humanities course,” said Dennis. “The symposiums bring together Dean College faculty with outside experts to answer a key question: how do we integrate a history classroom with a science lab in a way that makes the experience compelling, engaging, and seamless for our students?” he added.

The group plans to finalize the curriculum for each course this summer with the first offering set to roll out in fall of 2018.

For more information on the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), visit www.neh.gov. To learn more about Dean College, visit www.dean.edu. 

New Student Orientation (NSO) is required for all incoming students for fall 2018. The program is designed to prepare students for a successful introduction to college and will allow students and their families to sample many aspects of Dean College. All students must register to attend one NSO session.
NSO offers helpful and interactive presentations to make the transition to college as easy as possible. The required program will familiarize you and your family with the academic support, expectations within our community, residence life programs available on campus and more. You will also have a chance to meet our faculty and staff, connect with other Dean students, and make new friends!

*Visitors should park in the Dean Hall Lot. If you are using a GPS, enter the address: 75 Emmons Street, Franklin, MA 02038

Visit www.dean.edu/nso to learn more and register.

Dean College has been recognized for its committed implementation of High-Impact Educational Practices, earning its title as one of the nation’s Colleges of Distinction. This is the third consecutive year that Dean College has earned this honor. 

“We are absolutely thrilled to recognize Dean College as a College of Distinction for its effective dedication to student success,” said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer for Colleges of Distinction. “Colleges of Distinction is so impressed with Dean College’s curriculum, which is enriched with the kind of High-Impact Educational Practices that are most crucial for student development. Such innovative engagement is preparing the next generation of young adults to thrive after college.”

Colleges of Distinction’s selection process consists of a review of each institution’s freshman experience and retention efforts alongside its general education programs, alumni success, strategic plan, student satisfaction, and more. Schools are accepted on the basis that they adhere to the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. 

“Colleges of Distinction is far more than a ranking list of colleges and universities,” said Schritter. “We seek out the schools that are wholly focused on the student experience, constantly working to produce graduates who are prepared for a rapidly changing global society. Now recognized as a College of Distinction, Dean College stands out in the way it strives to help its students to learn, grow, and succeed.”

Dean College has been further recognized with a Field of Study badge for its Business Management program. This is the second consecutive year that Dean College has earned this honor. College of Distinction’s Field of Study badges were created to recognize colleges and universities like Dean College for their innovative leadership in higher education. Those who have received this honor have proven themselves for qualities such as breadth of program and track record for success.

Dean College is proud to be named a 2018-19 College of Distinction. To learn more about the many awards, recognitions and accomplishments that Dean College continues to be honored with, visit www.dean.edu. For more information on Colleges of Distinction, visit www.collegesofdistinction.com.

Former Dean College Director of Athletics John Jackson will join two other athletic administrators being inducted into the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Hall of Fame later this month.

Jackson, who was named the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year on three separate occasions (2002, 2010, 2014), will be inducted alongside Ron Case, the former AD at Rowan College-Gloucester County and Mary Ellen Leicht, the former CEO of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). 

"John's tireless work on behalf of the student-athletes at Dean and other institutions continues to be noticed long after his retirement," said Dean College President, Dr. Paula M. Rooney. "That is a testament to his exemplary work as an administrator, instructor and coach, and we are thrilled for him to receive such an incredible honor."

The honor for Jackson comes after he spent 37 years in various roles at Dean College – including 27 as the Director of Athletics. His tenure with the Bulldogs began in 1980 when he took over the men's basketball program and guided them to 120 wins in ten seasons – the most in the history of the program.

Jackson also served two separate stints as the head softball coach. His first run (2002-04) produced a pair of 20+ win seasons – including a school-record 23 in 2002 -  as well as two Region XXI Championships (2002, 2003). Five seasons later, Jackson returned for five more seasons (2010-14) culminating in an 18-win season in 2014 that saw Dean finish second in the region.

As an administrator, Jackson was instrumental in the construction of baseball and softball dugouts, the naming of Dale Lippert Field, the synthetic turf installation at Grant Field, and in the process of moving the College's athletic program from NJCAA affiliation towards full National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) membership.

After stepping down as AD on January 1, 2016, Jackson moved into the role of Director of NCAA Compliance, working closely with head coaches and student-athletes on issues of eligibility and retention before retiring in the spring of 2017.

Jackson's work was not contained to just Dean College as he served on numerous regional and national committees. He was the Chair of the Standard and Ethics Committee for the NJCAA, while also serving on the NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Committee.

Additionally, he held the position of women's and men's regional director of the NJCAA and was on the Executive Committee for the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

The College itself has honored Jackson's commitment, renaming the court inside of Pieri Gymnasium after him in 2017 and then establishing the John A. Jackson Sportsmanship Award, given annually to the student-athlete who best demonstrates the qualities of sportsmanship.

The ceremony will take place on June 28 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.

For the latest information on Dean College Athletics, visit www.deanbulldogs.com.

Franklin, Mass. – Sammy Morris, a 12-year National Football League (NFL) veteran who played for four different organizations, including four seasons with the New England Patriots, has been named the running backs coach at Dean College it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.

A member of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC), Dean competes at the NCAA Division III level and in recent years has transitioned from a junior college to a four-year institution in the process of gaining NCAA membership.

Morris, who has been an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Patriots since the 2016 season and an assistant coach at Attleboro (Mass.) High since 2013, will take over a ground game at Dean that ran for more than 150 yards per game and nine touchdowns a season ago.

"We are extremely excited to announce the hiring of Sammy Morris to coach the running backs and special teams at Dean College," said head coach Steve Tirrell. "His knowledge and experience will make an immediate impact on our coaching staff and student athletes."

Morris had a decorated NFL career, rushing for more than 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns while playing for the aforementioned Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys.

A fifth-round pick out of Texas Tech by the Bills in the 2000 NFL Draft, Morris played four seasons in Buffalo before signing with Miami in 2004. After spending three seasons with the Dolphins -  including the 2004 season when he was Miami's leading rusher - Morris signed with Patriots in time for the historic 2007 campaign, in which New England was undefeated until a Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.

During New England's undefeated 16-0 regular season, Morris had back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances against Cincinnati (21 carries, 117 yards, TD) and Cleveland (21 carries, 102 yards). His season was derailed one week later, however, when he suffered a season-ending injury against the Cowboys.

The 2008 campaign proved to be the best season of Morris' career, rushing for a career-best 757 yards and seven touchdowns on 4.7 yards per carry. He had a monster performance against the Broncos in October, running for a career-high 138 yards on just 16 carries in a 41-7 New England victory.

Morris spent two more seasons in New England before being released right before the start of the 2011 season. He was scooped up by the Cowboys late in the season and ran for 98 yards in three games.  

He played two seasons of college football at Texas Tech and was an integral part (33 carries, 170 yards) of the Red Raiders upset of No. 5 Texas A&M back in 1999.

A 2000 graduate of Texas Tech with a degree in communication studies, Morris graduated from the Harvard Business School's NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program in 2009.

Dean football student-athletes are slated to return for preseason practice beginning on August 10. Their first game is a little more than three weeks later when they travel to Curry College on Saturday, September 1.