Start Strong with A&S: Dean Dayna Touron Previews the Open House Event and What’s Ahead This Fall

The start of a new academic year is full of excitement—and opportunity. To help students make the most of it, the College of Arts & Sciences is hosting an Open House on Friday, August 15 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the BAB lobby.  

In this Q&A, Dean Dayna Touron shares why the event is the perfect place to find your community, explore your interests, and begin building a meaningful college experience. 

Whether you’ve decided on a major or are still exploring, the A&S Open House is your chance to jumpstart the semester with connection, community, and possibility. 

Q: What can new students expect at the A&S Open House, and why is it a great way to kick off the semester? 

Dean Touron: Students can expect to be welcomed! They can expect to enjoy free donuts, and they can meet Lily the comfort dog, as well as faculty and staff in our departments. It’s also a great opportunity to meet other new students, and to start building relationships and friendships; meeting people who share your interests, passions, and career goals. It’s a great way to start your semester with connection and community. 

Q: How can meeting faculty, staff, and fellow students early on—like at this event—shape a student’s experience in the College of Arts & Sciences? 

Dean Touron: I think it can help you feel more connected, and it can open doors to opportunities like mentorship, research, exploring different careers, and it’s a great idea to do that from the get-go. You’ll start to build a network, which can guide you both academically and personally for your time here at UofL. You will find people who inspire you, people who challenge you, and again, that will help you to develop a path for your time at the university. 

Q: For students who are undecided or still exploring majors or minors, what advice do you have for making the most of the Open House? 

Dean Touron: Come with an open mind and talk to as many departments as you can. Be prepared to be surprised by some of the career opportunities that can be available from majors that you did not anticipate. Talk to them about your goals, aspirations, and the impact you want to make on the world. And they can talk to you about how their department and their majors and minors can help you to get there. Connect with advisors who can help you explore different degree paths and think about those career goals. It’s a chance to explore options in an atmosphere that is relaxed and friendly, rather than just reading through a website. 

Q: What are you most excited to share with students about A&S this year? 

Dean Touron: We have incredible energy and innovation happening across our majors and departments; groundbreaking research, community engagement, and an increasing number of opportunities that students have to be involved beyond the classroom. Whether it’s internships, or being mentored by alumni, or being a part of research in a faculty member’s lab, you can be a part of the amazing innovative work that our faculty are doing. 

Regardless of what you are passionate about, if that includes science, the arts, or social change, there is a place for you in the College of Arts & Sciences. Here, we teach and help students to grow in foundational skills, creative thinking, communication, writing, and more, and that can prepare you for careers that do not even exist yet. We want to help you move forward into a life of impact that aligns with your goals.