A Fresh Look

President Ross and the New Blog Squad

by Morgan | September 2, 2009

Today had a very unusual lunch. I had lunch with President Ross of Lynn University along with all the bloggers. It was our first chance as bloggers to all sit down together to meet each other in our new roles. It is fun to see who I will be working side by side with online for the school year. I knew some already on a personal note.

It was a little strange to meet everyone while meeting the president of our university. No pressure or anything! I have heard President Ross speak many times over the last two years at school and he is a wonderful speaker. I personally think that his age and dreams for Lynn work for him. Who cares if the other universities have guys in their 70’s, when they were in college, our parents weren’t even alive, so what do they know about today’s generation?  He told us about his college years while asking us about how ours were going, even if it was only really day 5 for one of us, Kerri. President Ross has a great gift to walk into a room and make everyone feel comfortable. I found out just a few days ago, he risked embrassment  and put on his dancing shoes for a good cause, scholarships for college students. Aparently, he’s willing to do things out of his norm infront of 500 people or get twitter (after Jason, our boss creates it for him and teaches him how to use it.) for his students. I wonder what he will be twittering about? Hmm, I guess that might mean I would have to create a twitter acount myself.

When I first got the email that the president wanted to have lunch with the bloggers, I laughed at the email, not believing it. I read it over again and thought about it. A man that is so busy, a student has to request a meeting weeks in advance is openly asking the bloggers  to lunch? Plus, he was a huge fan of bloggers? I was shocked, then I was nervous, what was I going to wear!? lol. I just couldn’t believe he wanted to meet with the bloggers.

I was on my way to his office when he was heading towards me with other students, which one kept saying “Christines” over and over again, which to me ment the coffee shop, not thinking about the Christines meeting room, so I was wondering why I needed to follow Dr. Ross as he got coffee when we were supposed to be meeting upstairs in his conference room. (Later, I found the text message that was supposed to inform me of that, my phone was already on silent by this point.)

The food was great, but it seemed hardly any of us touched it from trying to keep up with the conversation. I know that was my reason, that and I didn’t want to drop food on myself from not fully paying attention since I saw Jason was fully prepared with his camera in the back of the room.

After tons of questions about our lives, where we were all from, what we wanted from Lynn, what he wanted from Lynn, I could finally see why this man is paid the big bucks. He really wants the best for Lynn University. I think if he had more time, he would spend more time just sitting around, listening to students and personally letting us in on his vision for Lynn. Just listening to him talk about everything that is planned for this school year explained a lot of why half the school looks like its being dug up. The tennis courts are being moved as well as the outside basketball courts.  New lights are being put in. There are just so many small to large projects happening across the campus.

At the end of the day, I am excited that we have such a cool university president. Dr. Kevin Ross just wants to be open to change, ideas, and standing out from other universities. He has only been at this for 4 years at Lynn, which I was shocked to learn. Aparently I was informed this my freshmen year, but honestly, my thoughts weren’t on how long the president had been at the university or his plans, more like, so where is this class again and how much is the textbook??? By the way President Ross, if you are reading this, is there anything you could do about those biology book prices? I’ve also heard the business degree books are up there as well…. just a thought.

The formal lunch may have ended at 12:20, but that didn’t stop the bloggers from talking at mad speed for another hour. No one seemed to hold back their questions for each other, most being new at the school blogging gig. I got to meet Natalie, the soccer player, plus new blogger. I was really excited to meet her since I love soccer and love watching the games. Last year when we were talking about adding more bloggers, one being an athlete, I was praying it was a sport that I liked so I would actually read it. Aftering meeting Natalie, and walking over to the gym with her in the heavy rain, I am every excited to read her blog! She is really cool, fun, and an awsome soccer player. I met Kerri the newest to Lynn and the new youngest on the blog squad. Yes! Its not me anymore! No more teasing… at least about that. Gene will find something by the next meeting. ( I dont’ mind, just happy he’s healthy! Read his blog about his scary summer health issue.) Then there was JD, who has been talking about blogging for a while, now he’s up and online! Writing in spanish, so I have no clue what he’s saying. lol. I got to sit next to my sister Steph, who is now a blogger, here,there, everywhere! She is busy promoting disablity awareness month next month that she has created at Lynn. (She started planning it her freshmen year! She thinks big.)  I talked to the two Ryan’s and Kevin for a few minutes before they ran to class due to the rain.

I am looking forward to working side by side with the new blog squad as well as reading what they have to say. Check us all out at http://blogs.lynn.edu/.