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FYE - Forming A Foundation

Meet Your Class Dean!

Sonnet Graham - Monday, July 6
 Events 

REGISTRATION REMINDER

Fall course registration opens this Monday, June 22nd, at 9am!  It is a LIVE registration, meaning that the courses you select will be yours in real time, so it's recommended that you use the Saved Schedules feature in Workday to build your preferred class list, save it, and register from there at 9am on Monday!

If you miss that window, no worries!  Registration will stay open all summer long, and you can register, swap courses, or add yourself to a waitlist at any time.  For more ins-and-outs of registration how-tos, check out Workday Student Resources Registration section.

Keep in mind that waitlists do not count as registered classes, and you must register for at least 12 credits, not including your waitlists.  If you haven't yet attended an advising session with a faculty member, you can still sign up for one via MuleLife Events over the weekend.  Starting Monday, you can also attend drop-in advising sessions professors all week long from 8am-8pm (also posted in MuleLife).  Email sfa@colby.edu with questions!

If you missed the email on Academic Advising, you can find all previous emails in the News section of MuleLife, or you can find the same information on the Advising page.  

What Is a Class Dean?


Dear New Mules,

At Colby, the Dean of Studies Office works to support students through all four years of their Colby Journey.  We do this by having a "Class Dean" for each year you are at Colby!  I'm Dr. Jillian Duquaine-Watson, and I'll be your first-year class dean for the upcoming academic year.  Below, you can read a little about each of my colleagues who will support you in the years to come.

Class Deans can help you with a whole range of things.  If you need help with distribution requirements, I can give you some guidance.  If you are unsure who the "right" person to talk to is about something you need to take care of on campus, I can point you to the correct office and help you set up a meeting.  If you are having a hard time and need supportive resources, I can review those with you and make referrals for the ones that would suit you best.  Essentially, there's a lot to learn at Colby even outside the classroom, and I'm here to help however I can!

You can read my full bio on the Dean of Studies webpage.  In the meantime, feel free to email me with any questions you may have or just to say hi!

Welcome to Colby,
Dr. Jillian

Jess Woods, Sophomore Class Dean

Dean Jess is a Maine native who you'll likely meet at "Chart Your Course" the fall semester event where you can learn all about Colby's different majors, meet professors in your field, and plan your academic journey.

Jess came to Colby after serving secondary students in mid-coast Maine as a School Counselor, educational consultant, and high school administrator. Jess has been passionate about the field of higher education since her undergraduate days at Simmons College in Boston, and she's currently pursuing her Ph.D. with UMass (just like you, Jess is a first-year student)!

She enjoys life in this beautiful part of the world, and can often be found hiking a beautiful Maine mountain in her free time. She is also a proud mom to two human children, Grace and Levi, and two dog children, Hazel and Baxter.

Sam Sowl, Junior Class Dean

Dean Sam hails from Wisconsin and will be here to support you as you work with Global Education Opportunities to plan your junior year abroad and DavisConnects to land your junior summer internship.

Sam comes to Colby from Marquette University in Milwaukee where he served as the Assistant Director of Academic Advising. He received his B.A. from Knox College where he majored in in American Studies and subsequently earned his M.A. in Education with a focus on Differentiated Instruction. Before transitioning into higher education, Sam worked in the youth development nonprofit world, primarily focused on social/emotional skills, identity formation, and restorative practices.

In his free time, Sam is a major music nerd, and has a far too large record and tape collection. He also enjoys going on drives in the country with his family, exploring small towns, and swimming in cold water – quite the fit for Maine!

Jon-Mark Olivier, Senior Class Dean

Dean Jon-Mark grew up in South Africa, and like you this is his first-year in a new role (though he's been working at Colby as the Director of Community Values for half a decade)!  You might not be able to imagine it now, but Jon-Mark is the person who will be helping you plan to transition into the world beyond Colby!

Jon-Mark worked as a high school teacher and faculty member at the Methodist seminary before immigrating with his American-born wife and their son in 2016. He holds a B.Ed from UNISA, a B.A from Millsaps College, and a M.SocSci (Sociology) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where his dissertation focused on high school student sense-of-belonging.

Jon-Mark is an avid sports fan, particularly of soccer (football!), cricket and rugby – but he has managed to “get into” American football and baseball. If he is not watching highlights, he is likely watching a horror movie. Away from screens, he enjoys being in the woods or fishing, and he plans to add metal-detecting to his list of hobbies, eventually.