Dean for a Day: Kyle Labron and Dr. Graydon Raymer

This year, Nipissing University introduced Dean for a Day; a first-of-its-kind opportunity inviting students to change places with their Dean for an academic Freaky Friday-inspired experience. Students were asked to submit a 500-word essay to their respective Dean’s office in response to the prompt: If you were Dean, what new idea(s) would you pursue to enhance the student experience? The initiative offered students a chance to influence change, explore leadership, and build connections, while having a bit of fun along the way.

Two students stood out: Kyle Labron and Priya Seeraj-Turingia. Their compelling essays earned them the opportunity to trade places for a day with Dr. Graydon Raymer and Dr. Nathan Colborne, respectively.

On March 19, Business student Kyle Labron and Interim Dean of the Faculty of Education and Professional Studies, Dr. Graydon Raymer, shared roles for a day. The initiative gave Kyle a rare behind-the-scenes look at university operations while offering Dr. Raymer an opportunity to gain a student perspective on academic experiences and challenges.

For Dr. Raymer, the experience reaffirmed the importance of engaging students in discussions about education. “Kyle had some great suggestions, including supporting faculty with resources to implement authentic assessment approaches that are not susceptible to misuse by generative AI,” he said. “He also shared how students are eager for opportunities within their lecture time to work on and practice learning content and skills.” 

As part of his day, Kyle attended meetings that spanned a wide range of university operations. He joined a call with the Ontario Deans of Education to discuss solutions to Ontario’s teacher shortage, observed the University Management Group review recommendations on improving institutional processes, and participated in a research funding meeting. For Kyle, this experience was eye-opening.

“The most surprising part of being Dean for a Day was learning about the interconnectedness of all the administrative teams and how much forward thinking is done by the administration,” Kyle said. “Many university operations require planning almost a year in advance while simultaneously executing current responsibilities.”

Dr. Raymer found Kyle’s fresh perspective valuable, particularly in discussions about student engagement. Kyle, who transferred to Nipissing after a year at York University, shared an observation that while Nipissing fosters strong student-faculty relationships, there may be fewer opportunities for students to connect with each other in a smaller institution. This insight resonated with Dr. Raymer.

“Kyle’s experience reinforced my belief that we can’t rely on size alone to create a close community,” Dr. Raymer reflected. “We have to be purposeful about fostering connection because.”

One of the most rewarding moments for Dr. Raymer was seeing Kyle engage with the complexities of university decision-making. “Some students only come to see me when they are facing difficulty,” he noted. “I want to be able to show students that I am here for them to share opportunities and optimism too.”

For Kyle, the experience strengthened his appreciation for the role of leadership in shaping the university. “Sitting in on a board meeting was a highlight for me,” he said. “It gave me an overview of the functions and responsibilities of each organizational area, and it was insightful to see the strategic vision, goals, and the plan for achieving them.”

Reflecting on what he would change if given the opportunity, Kyle emphasized the importance of applied learning. “Many of my business courses excel at developing core frameworks and a deep understanding of concepts, but they could be brought to the next level with more application-based assessments,” he said.

The Dean for a Day experience accentuated the value of direct student-administrator conversations in shaping the Nipissing experience. As Dr. Raymer put it, “Meeting a really interesting and engaged student and hearing about his experiences at NU was the most rewarding part of the day.”

By stepping into each other’s shoes, both Kyle and Dr. Raymer gained new insights: on leadership, learning, and the importance of continuous dialogue between students and university leadership.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for part two of Dean for a Day with English student Priya Seeraj-Turingia and Dean of Arts & Science, Dr. Nathan Colborne.

Media Contact: 

Khia Beauchesne 
Communications Officer 
Nipissing University 
(705) 474-3450 ext. 4035 
communications@nipissingu.ca