What is the Dean’s Student Circle?
At the School of Communication, students are at the core of all we do. The Dean’s Student Circle (DSC) is an organization of student ambassadors who represent the School to prospective students, new students, and the University of Miami at large by participating in outreach and recruitment, leading tours, and assisting in orientations and panels. Members also share ideas and student feedback with School leadership.
The DSC also offers a mentorship program which connects students within their first two semesters at the SoC with students who have ideally at least three semesters at the School.
The Dean’s Student Circle Mentorship Program
The Dean’s Student Circle Mentorship Program at the School of Communication helps students succeed by connecting students within their first two semesters at the SoC with students who have ideally at least three semesters at the School. This program equips new students with the resources and peer guidance needed to help them navigate the multiple facets of college life.
Student Ambassadors
Student Ambassadors must have at least 2 semesters completed in the School of Communication. In this role, members represent the School to prospective students, new students, and the UM community by participating in outreach and recruitment, leading tours, and assisting in orientation activities and panel discussions. They also share ideas and student feedback with School leadership.
Mentors
Mentors are Student Ambassadors who ideally have at least 3 semesters with the School of Communication. The ideal mentor has already completed an internship, devoted time to a University of Miami organization, and used the resources on campus. Mentors are paired with new students who may not be familiar with all the opportunities available at UM.
Mentees
If you are new to the School of Communication, the DSC Mentorship Program was designed with you in mind. As part of this program, you are paired with a mentor in one of your areas of study who will show you how to utilize the resources at UM and at the School to maximize your experience. This opportunity allows newer students to form developmental relationships that help them navigate the academic, professional, and practical realities of college life.
How to Join
Visit one of the links above to complete an online form. Complete applications include a resume, a letter of recommendation, and at least a 3.0 GPA in both the SoC and UM. Selected students will be asked to participate in a short interview.
All applicants must be in good standing and students in the School of Communication.
Responsibilities
New student transfer orientation activities (at the beginning of each semester)
Special Events (including, but not limited to: Open House, Family Weekend, Communication Week, guest speakers, panels, etc.)
Participate in outreach and recruitment
Giving a tour once a week or once every other week based on the student’s schedule/availability
Help the Admissions, Academic and Alumni Office during advising times
Assist in phone campaigns
Mentoring of Freshmen
Peer Counseling
Help students as they look for internships or jobs, promote events
Current Members
Sarah Topf
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Major: Motion Pictures and Spanish
Minors: Ecosystem Science and Policy
Favorite Internship: I’m about to start my first internship this summer at Sun Sentinel’s video production department
Extracurricular Activities: Filmmaking, animal rescue, and martial arts
Favorite Quote: “Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart” – Roy T. Bennett
Kailah Anderson
Hometown: Chesapeake, Virginia
Major: Advertising
Minors: Marketing
Extracurricular Activities: Orientation Fellow, model coordinator, and cane for a day host
Favorite Quote: “If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.” – Beyoncé
Esther Animalu
Hometown: Queens, New York
Major: Communication Honors-Broadcast Journalism and Political Science
Minors: Media Management and International Studies
Favorite Internship: Oath Inc. (Formerly known as AOL Inc.)
Extracurricular Activities: The Miami Hurricane, National Association of Black Journalists, Society for Professional Journalists, Model United Nations, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, TEDxUmiami, African Students Union, Empowered Youth, G.O.O.D (Girls of Outreach and Diversity)
Favorite Quote: “Journalism can never be silent: That is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air.” – Henry Anatole Grunwald
Tyler Walsh
Hometown: Reading, Massachusetts
Major: Broadcast Journalism & Psychology
Minors: Film
Extracurricular Activities: UMTV, Calling Canes, National Broadcasting Society
Favorite Quote: “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Julia Barger
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Major: Communication Studies
Minors: Media Management, Marketing, Music Business
Favorite Internship: Working with fitness by the sea this summer.
Extracurricular Activities: Hurricane Productions, Panhellenic Association, Media Management Association, ‘Cane Records
Favorite Quote: “If you can look at yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and say you tried your hardest then regardless the outcome, you did well” -Glenn Barger
Jay’La Evans
Hometown: Saint Stephen, South Carolina
Major: Motion Pictures
Minors: Broadcast Journalism
Extracurricular Activities: Basketball, Soccer, Shoes Customizing, Filmmaking and Photography
Favorite Quote: “Color is descriptive, but black and white is interpretive.” -Elliott Erwitt
Shane Shakoor
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Major: Motion Pictures
Minors: Strategic Communication; Communication Studies
Favorite Internship: Operations & Special Projects Intern at Consumer Credit Counseling Services
Extracurricular Activities: Associate Producer of UMTV’s ‘The Culture’ PR Chair of Sociology/Criminology Club; United Black Students; NAACP; Horizons Orientation Mentor
Favorite Quote: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – Barack Obama