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  • The tweeting Dean of Students

    By Eric Stoller August 11, 2010 4:30 am EDT

    I've been keeping track of as many tweeting Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs) as I possibly can via a Twitter list. It is interesting to see how different tweeting styles emerge based on personality, strategy, and a willingness to adopt social media from a leadership perspective.

    While he does not tweet a lot, Kenn Elmore, the Dean of Students at Boston University (BU), has an amazing way of finding interesting tidbits or "musings" to send out to the Twitter universe.

    "DeanElmore" frequently posts links to New York Times articles and poses questions based on the context of the article. With more than 3,400 followers, Dean Elmore is the most-followed SSAO on my Twitter list. His tweets are usually posted via an iPhone in order to keep up with the dean's busy schedule.

    I've spoken with Dean Elmore numerous times about using Twitter as a communications platform from within a student affairs position. We both agree that microblogs can be a powerful medium for branding and engagement. The dean does not respond to his fellow twitterers very often. When a reply is posted, it is usually to a member of the BU community. The effect of this type of engagement is especially provocative and powerful. Only a handful of folks receive replies on a regular basis. In Dean Elmore's "Twitterverse," less is truly more. I'm still waiting for one of those coveted replies...

    If you are an SSAO and you're interested in how you can use Twitter, I would highly suggest that you follow Dean Elmore's tweet stream.

    Are you an SSAO? Are you on Twitter? Why? Why not?

    Do you tweet? Follow me on Twitter.

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Comments on The tweeting Dean of Students

  • I love the Tweet Dean
  • Posted by Lulu Kaliher , Complex coordinator at University of Delaware on August 11, 2010 at 9:15am EDT

  • I follow the Dean and gain great insight to his role on campus and the resources he utilizes. He role models what SSAO should be doing - making connections in all domains, in face and online. Keep the good work going.

  • SSAO Twitter Role Model
  • Posted by Ed Cabellon , Director, Rondileau Campus Center at Bridgewater State University on August 11, 2010 at 2:30pm EDT

  • Dean Elmore has been one of my Student Affairs "technology" role models for some time now. He not only gets Twitter, but the reason behind using and advancing technology in the first place: to connect with our students where they already are. His style works for him, while others may use it differently.

    The point is: get on board, the conversation water is quite nice :-)

  • One important point
  • Posted by Kat , Assistant to the Dean at Boston University on August 11, 2010 at 3:00pm EDT

  • Great piece, Eric. As one of Dean Elmore's assistants, I just wanted to jump in and add an important point.

    Many people ask Kenn if there is a strategy behind his Tweets, and why he doesn't tweet more often. We're big on authencity within social media, thus he's only going to tweet about things he enjoys, finds interesting, and wants to discuss. If that means he tweets a bunch in succession on a Saturday morning while reading the Times, then so be it. Lesson: Students will know if your social media interaction is forced - be yourself.

    -Kat (@sportsgirlkat)

  • great example of leadership using social media
  • Posted by Joshua Kim , Master of Health Care Delivery Science at Dartmouth College on August 11, 2010 at 5:45pm EDT

  • Eric...great post. We need more specific examples like you provide of leadership in higher ed using social media like Dean Elmore!

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