As I spoke to Marc Oppenheim on the phone for this very interview, he looked up my DAR and assuaged an old concern I had about my credits for graduation not adding up correctly. His work as an Associate Dean for Student Affairs here at Hofstra never stops. Dean Oppenheim has tremendous enthusiasm for his work here on campus and the students that he advises. He is always helpful. He is this week’s Campus Celebrity!
You are a Hofstra alum yourself! You earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree here. What is it about Hofstra that made you come back for more?
I honestly really love Hofstra in general. I’ve been working here for 14 years. I love the campus. I love the people and I really feel like I learned a lot and I enjoyed my educational experience here. When I got the opportunity to work here, I decided to take the shot. It was right after I finished my bachelor’s. During my undergrad, which was in sociology, I was a student aide in the Center for University Advisement. I worked there for four years and after graduation, my boss advised me to apply for a full time position. I did, and on July 31, 2000 I started working here as an Assistant Dean in the center for university advisement. I was very fortunate.
Did you always want to work for a university?
To be honest, I didn’t know exactly where I was heading after graduation. I was just looking for interesting job opportunities that would allow me to learn and be in places where I could communicate with others. My sociology degree helped me love to learn thinking about people and social issues. My experience in the advisement office showed me that I love that setting, interacting with my peers. I liked learning about college administration. But I didn’t expect this opportunity. It was like I was at the right place at the right time. If I hadn’t gotten this job, I had gone on an interview as a research assistant at a music publishing company. I would’ve worked there.
But when Hofstra hired me, I was excited to work at that office where I had worked as a student aide. I used to answer phones, and go and ask the advisers for answers to callers’ questions and then repeat the answers back to the caller. Indirectly, I learned everything there was to know about the position at Hofstra. I learned all the software. I had a real advantage when I applied. But I was open minded to anything career wise. I always had a long-term goal to get into the classroom and potentially teach sociology on the college level. I wasn’t planning for PhD at that point, but I was thinking about graduate studies.
What are some of the things you do as an Associate Dean for Student Affairs?
I am in charge of advising all first year students in the Herbert School of Communication, including freshmen and transfer students. I also train faculty on advising and Hofstra policy. I’m also in charge of the schools recruitment and retention initiatives. And I’m a liaison to the Provost’s office on transfer student issues.
You’ve become a bit of an internship/job guru for Comm. students on Twitter. What advice do you have for students trying to land their dream internship or job?
Number one is it’s all about relationships and making sure that as a soon-to-be-graduate, or as an underclassman seeking internships, that you are attempting to have conversations with students who’ve come before you, or professionals in the industry. Not to reach out for jobs immediately, but to try to connect with them on a broader interest. The more relationships you form and the more people you know that can verify your character and professionalism and maturity, that goes a long way in addition to your credentials on your resume and cover letter. It’s important to let people you know you are a real person, that you’re an overall good candidate. That’s one bit of advice. Try and communicate with as many people in your industry as possible.
Another thing I learned is there are many more job opportunities that you would suspect. But many of them are not local to where you live or plan to live. Don’t be afraid to take a chance early on and go toward the type of jobs that are ideal for you. I find that a lot of people limit their options because they want to stay in one geographic location. I understand that everyone wants to be close to family and friends, however I would look at the possibility of relocation as a temporary thing to build your experience to make it back home eventually, or to a bigger market.
Like I said, you are very active on Twitter, and all social media sites for that matter. Do you find that it has helped you to connect with students better?
Absolutely. When it comes to social media, I’m mostly trying to interact with alumni and professionals that can better serve my current students. But recently I have started to interact more with continuing students on Facebook because I’ve done live Facebook Q&As where I encourage students to talk to me. I would like to make myself available on as many channels as possible. It allows people to get their questions answered and develop a stronger relationship with Hofstra. I see myself as an ambassador for Hofstra and for the Herbert School.
What is your favorite thing about working here at Hofstra?
Advising students. My day is broken down into a lot of things. Sometimes it’s administrative tasks. But most of it is spent advising students. I really enjoy that, because in my experience the students are extremely appreciative of advice. Thankfully for me, because I’ve been doing this for 14 years, I have the confidence to answer just about any advisement question, or I at least always know whom to ask if I am unsure. I like being able to give a definitive answer to students. I like helping them solve their problems.
You are also the head of the M.A. in Rhetorical Studies program, which fittingly, you completed before becoming the director. What does that job entail?
I oversee all of the administrative elements of the program. Recruiting students, advising the existing students… I manage the scholarship budget and I participate in numerous grad students’ events to recruit and engage potential students. I also do a lot to create engagement with alumni. I’m doing my best to promote the program digitally and through other campaigns.
What’s your favorite Hofstra memory?
There are a number of them. Wow, that’s a tough question. But I would have to say my favorite was spending the day in the media filing center during the Presidential Debate in 2012. In 2012, I was asked to supervise a group of volunteers for a few hours during the debate at the filing center. I had the privilege after serving my shift to stay in the filing center and interact with Hofstra students, faculty and alumni who were working the event with the media. I had the chance to watch the actual debate from the filing center, sitting next to two alumni I had advised years before. One of which was there as a media member with ABC and Good Morning America. The one thing that was really rewarding besides being in the historic environment was that I spoke to 6 other Hofstra alumni working in the media too. It was so exciting seeing the alums coming back to their alma mater to cover the event from the inside.
You can follow Dean Oppenheim on Twitter at @DeanOppenheimHU