Welcome Back Reception

Mar 2, 2026 9:00 AM

Frostburg State University’s College of Education, Behavioral & Health Professions hosted its annual Meet the Dean Reception, giving students the chance to connect with Dean Boyce C. Williams, faculty, administrators, and peers. The event featured food, a book giveaway, and a reading of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Students arrived eager and excited, and the atmosphere set a positive tone for the new academic year.

Students described the event as both enjoyable and meaningful. “The food was great!” said Leah Brenneman. Eva Winters agreed: “It was a great social event with great food!” Alexis Miller added, “The Meet the Dean event was super welcoming, and Dean Williams is wonderful,” while April McGrath shared, “I enjoyed seeing new faces and meeting other education majors!”

Dr. Fannia Boayue highlighted the crowd's enthusiasm. “The joy on the students’ faces… the smiles, just soaking it all in. It seemed like they were glad to be there,” she said. She emphasized that having administrators present helps students feel valued and connected.

For education major Sophia Rankin, the Dean’s speech was a standout moment. “The Dean’s speech was very inspirational; it was very well thought out,” she said. The message reinforced Rankin’s impression of Dean Williams’ passion for education and commitment to student involvement. One piece of advice stayed with her: “You’ll never know the places you’ll go until you try.”

Rankin also noted that the event offered valuable networking opportunities. “As an education major, networking is really important. Having everybody in one place — faculty and students — is a really valuable experience,” she said. Dr. Boayue echoed this, connecting the reception to the college’s mission: “It demonstrated the very core of putting students at the heart of what we do.”

Even students who arrived later felt welcomed. One attendee recalled, “I made it to the Meet the Dean event after the bulk of the activity was completed. Dean Williams greeted me warmly, thanked me for coming, offered me food, and told me how appreciative the nursing students were.”

The reception ultimately served as a space for students to build relationships, meet new peers, and strengthen community across departments. As Rankin reflected, “Seeing everybody there who has a love of similar subjects as me is really inspiring to pursue my career in education.”