Inside the Dean's Office, Literally
The resident is always the last to know. Bendetson 201—the dean’s office, my office—is a mysterious spot on campus. “So this is where the magic happens…” remarked a recent visitor, a wide-eyed undergrad who’d never had a reason to wander upstairs. “It’s a nice office,” he added quickly as he scanned the room. But I detected a wee touch of disappointment as he realized it was, after all, just a room with a desk and a table, a big bookcase, a couple of plants, maybe an apple on the desk. I felt like the Wizard of Oz after Toto pulled back the curtain: yup, it’s just an office. No magic.
Jasmine Bland ’15, one of our senior interns, popped into my office this morning and she put a different spin on it. “I’m so nervous to come in here!” she confessed. I was puzzled. The gal who loves to hug was nervous about visiting Bendetson 201? I asked her why and she looked incredulous: “You’re the dean!” Yes, my business card proves that I am but her answer implies that my office should be off limits. Like it's a star chamber. Or a jury room (well...). Or the private quarters of a church rectory. Nope, it's just my 9-to-5 home.
So, with Jasmine clapping in the background, I decided to offer a guided tour of my office. Scroll over each photo for a quick caption. I think it's a nice office, hopefully with a Zen vibe, but it's not all that bewitching.