One of UCSD’s newest alumni is Jenelle Dean, who graduated in June from Revelle College with a degree in human development. A native Californian, Jenelle was a busy and high-profile undergraduate, serving on the Revelle College Council, where she was chair of organizations, and working as an intern in the Division of External Relations, where she gained valuable experience in the offices of Alumni Relations, Student Affairs Development, and University Communications. Beginning this fall, Jenelle is a graduate student in the University of Arkansas’s Higher Education Leadership Program to earn a Master of Education degree. Before leaving UCSD this summer, Jenelle sat down for an interview outside the Molli and Arthur Wagner Dance Building, one of her favorite campus spots.

What were your first impressions of UCSD?

Dean: I fell in love with UCSD the first time I visited it, and every visit after that, it just felt better and better. It’s a beautiful campus with a perfect location. I’m originally from Oxnard, so UCSD wasn’t too far from home and it wasn’t too close. I love being this near the ocean, and the environment of UCSD is very welcoming and comfortable. It was definitely a place I could see myself for four years. The academic reputation was very important to me, and the college system was very appealing, because it meant I would have a more personal experience than if I were to go to a large university without this structure.

What advice would you give to an incoming freshman student about succeeding at UCSD?

Dean: First and foremost, I would say make the most of your experiences here! Don’t sit back and wait for things to come to you. Find your interests and engage in your passions, whether they are in the academic or social realms or in some other aspect of university life. Make friends, study hard, and, most of all, have fun because time goes by really quickly here.

What has surprised you most about campus life?

Dean: As I became more and more involved in campus life, I was surprised to find out how new this campus really is. Revelle College was founded only 40 years ago, and it was the first college. UCSD has grown up very fast, and I think this has enabled students, staff, and faculty to pursue new ideas and develop great new programs. And more and more of that will happen as time progresses. So I really see great things in UCSD’s future.

Which professors have had the biggest impact on your education to date?

Dean: I entered as a biology major, but I later switched to a major in human development. The courses I enjoyed most of all were taught by Professors Clarissa Reese and Rachel Johnson, who taught my advanced human development courses. The way they engaged students enabled us to think on our own and relate to what we were studying. They were excited and upbeat, ready to teach and ready for us to learn. Also, I was able to take several dance classes. I studied ballet between the ages of 6 and 16, and I was pretty serious about it until I knew I wanted to go to college and focus on academics. Sandra Foster King has been my favorite dance professor overall. I took African dance with her, and it was the best class I’ve ever taken, not only because I was able to exercise and feel good physically, but mentally, it was so great to get away from the “normal” classroom setting.

If you could launch any new student program or activity, what would it be?

Dean: I was fortunate enough when I served on the Revelle College Council to take part in a student subcommittee called RCC (Revelle College Council) for Action. Its purpose was to open students’ eyes to the importance of tolerance and for celebrating our differences instead of just recognizing that we are different. We have a Hate Free Week on campus, but it’s only one week. So I think an ongoing program or organization that encourages tolerance would be an excellent idea. Our RCC for Action group organized a bus trip to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. We spent the whole day there – it was really eye-opening – and we were able to bring back the knowledge we gained to campus. Anything we can do to promote a hate-free environment would be beneficial to UCSD.

What are your favorite spots on campus?

Dean: I would pick the Wagner Dance Building because it’s a place where I learned to unwind and have a great time. Dance is a passion of mine because it helps me release myself. I have enjoyed hanging out at the Price Center with other students just eating, relaxing, and watching the world go by. Also, the Revelle Plaza would have to be one of my favorite spots. I lived in Argo Hall as a freshman student, and I helped plan enormous events there when I was on the council. It was my home, and I still love that spot to this day.

What do you do to unwind?

Dean: I like to dance, whether it be structured like ballet, jazz, or hip-hop or just going out on the town and dancing with friends. I like to read for fun when I have the time. I enjoy good company; spending time with family and close friends is important to me. I enjoy music and movies, and I’m a big shopaholic, so I like to spend some free time shopping.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Dean: In 10 years I will be 31, and will have completed the master’s program in higher education and started a career in that field. I intend to be engaged in student issues and student policies at whatever campus I’m at. After I’ve worked at a university for a few years, I’d like to get my Ph.D. in higher education. I will probably wind up living in a big city. I had an internship last summer in New York and I absolutely loved that. I’m a big fan of big city life. Aside from that, I hope to meet a great guy and start a family. I want to have a lot of children!

What is it like to go from being a student to being an alum?

Dean: I’m going pretty far away from San Diego, so it will be a little tough staying connected, especially since Arkansas does not currently have a UCSD alumni chapter. But I will try my hardest to remain a part of UCSD. My roots are here, and I have such an affection for this place that it won’t easily slip away from my life. So I intend to stay as close as I can.