Kristin Dean
M.A. Environment and Community, 2007
 Prior to enrolling at Antioch Seattle, Kristin Dean's primary focus was increasing the nation's fuel economy standards. She worked as the clean air and global warming associate at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
"I chose Antioch," Dean says, "because of its tradition and commitment to social justice. In addition, I was intrigued by the adult learning model and its commitment to the learner."
One of her best memories was the retreat at the start of the program.
"My brother started a graduate program a little before I did and did not have any sort of retreat or gathering before class started," she says. "When I realized he hadn't had my same experience, I was shocked because the retreat was so integral to my comfort and optimism upon starting graduate school.
"Faculty members in C3 are fabulous. In the classroom, they see themselves as a facilitator of your learning, not the expert with all the knowledge."
"The retreat was the foundation of the relationships in the cohort. On the first day of class, we already felt like a group of learners and not separate individuals.
"The personal and professional relationships I have built with my learning community are my favorite part of the program. I feel this has greatly enhanced my education by providing me the support, encouragement and challenge to dive deeper into my area of interest. Also, through this process I have been able to learn so much from other people's experiences."
She has kudos for the faculty and the director of the Center for Creative Change as well.
"I am inspired by Kate Davies on a daily basis. Her commitment to the success of the Center for Creative Change (C3), the faculty and the students is evident in her challenging and supportive nature.
"Faculty members in C3 are fabulous. In the classroom, they see themselves as a facilitator of your learning, not the expert with all the knowledge. They learn with you and, at the same time, hold the container for the class to grow. They are very experienced and bring their experiences into the classroom. In addition, they are always available for a meeting, phone conversation or e-mail response. I find them very accessible and understanding."
Faculty also played a key role in the independent study she pursued.
"I took part in an independent study to further investigate my area of interest. This eventually led to my thesis topic and capstone project. The faculty was helpful in supporting my process through consistently challenging me to dig deeper into my understanding of the topic."
Dean says she is impressed with the network of Antioch graduates she has discovered.
"I think there are a lot of opportunities for graduates with an Environment and Community degree. My Antioch degree has contributed to my success in my career by providing me with a new world view. It has provided me with a foundation from which I conduct my life both personally and professionally."
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