Martin Dupuis, Ph.D., or “Dean Marty” as he’s known around the Honors College, is the Senior Associate Dean of BHC. Having worked at BHC for the past 15 years, Dean Marty’s work includes helping the various offices within the college, scheduling Honors classes, and collaborating with alumni, parents, and donors. Students may also recognize him as one of the leaders of Honors Symposium. For Symposium, Dean Marty aids in coordinating weekly guest speakers and assignments, as well as assisting in organizing the Team Leader program. Though his job has several facets, Dean Marty’s favorite part about his job is helping students achieve their goals. “We have great students and part of the joy of being in higher education is helping people discover their dreams,” he states. He encourages students to dream big and contemplate, “What’s out there that I hadn’t considered before?”
As the upcoming school year approaches, Dean Marty is looking forward to meeting incoming BHC Scholars in Symposium. As he describes, Symposium is a team effort— it requires the collaboration of both staff and student Team Leaders (TLs) as they prepare each week to host all freshman BHC students. “It's really a launching pad for a student’s academic career. We want it to be fun and exciting and for students to make friends, but we also want students to have that professional polish that will distinguish them from others across the country,” Dean Marty explains. With different speakers and engaging activities each week, Symposium is sure to be a rewarding experience for all involved.
When asked which aspect of his job he’s most proud of, Dean Marty says that it’s the quality of the Honors curriculum. “It really is a hallmark of the Honors College—we're always trying to get more classes that students want,” he explains. While some other Honors programs offer only lower-level classes that don’t truly benefit students, students in BHC have the opportunity to take upper-division Honors courses within their major that will develop their skills and prepare them for a fulfilling career.
For BHC Scholars who are seeking to get involved at UCF, Dean Marty recommends joining Honors Congress, the official student organization of the Honors College. Honors Congress offers professional development, social events, volunteering opportunities, leadership positions, and more. Beyond Honors Congress, BHC offers several ways for students to immerse themselves into the Honors Community. Dean Marty also suggests participating in undergraduate research or applying to be an Honors Orientation Ambassador, TL, or member of the Dean’s Leadership Council. Regardless of the manner in which students choose to get involved, engaging in the UCF community will ensure that Honors Scholars get the most out of their undergraduate career.
