Viridiana Delgado
Contributing Writer
Dominican has given a face-lift to the first floor of Lewis Hall to better reflect the changing student body and Dominican community, according to Student Success & Engagement (SSE). The first floor serves as the university’s “front door” for all students, employees and visitors to campus according James DeFily, executive director of operations, buildings and grounds.
“With our 100-year anniversary approaching, it made sense to begin with freshening up the area that provides that initial ‘first experience’,” DeFily said. In addition to the new illustrations to represent Dominican’s student body, community and values, the university repainted to match the Office of Marketing and Communications brand.
This new refresh also includes new furniture in the Lewis Alcove throughout the upcoming weeks and SSE invites all to sit, study and stay awhile in the renewed common space which is set to be completed by the end of October.
The university is planning other changes as well. According to Genaro Balcazar, vice president of enrollment management, former President Donna Carroll’s office at the southwest corner of Lewis Hall will be transformed into a new Welcome Center, an area for admissions staff to meet prospective students and their parents. When President Glena Temple took over in August, she set up her office in Parmer Hall.
“We want to continue to give that opportunity for parents to feel comfortable about this new collegiate transition for their children,” Balcazar said. The transition doesn’t involve any new construction, but new furniture and technology will be part of the change. Balcazar didn’t have a timeline yet for the renovation but gradually everything will come to play with small updates to campus tours and the programs provided by the institution.
This is exciting news for the university, the new additions will speak to the student body experience, the values and success that the graduates of today will bring forward into the future.
