Breaking down barriers to belonging: a note from our Director of Student Outreach and Engagement

Welcome to Boston University! I joined the BU community this past June as the Director of Student Outreach and Engagement in the Dean of Students Office. As a new member of the community, I am looking forward to meeting you and sharing this journey with you.

As the Director of Student Outreach and Engagement, my goal is to ensure that students can take full advantage of the college experience. This means ensuring that students are aware of the myriad of opportunities available to them. Through collaboration with other departments, we will work to ascertain where the barriers to engaging are and remove them.

I want you to find your community here at BU — to feel like you belong. Your sense of belonging will fluctuate while you are here. Your notion of self, your values, your beliefs — all of these may change during your time with us, prompting you to find a new community, to question your sense of belonging. My hope is that during your time at BU, you know what resources are available, or at least who you can reach out to, to help you on this journey.

My office is on the 3rd floor of the George Sherman Union at 775 Commonwealth Avenue in the Dean of Students suite. You can also reach me via email at katycoll@bu.edu or via phone at 617-353-4126. I look forward to meeting you!

All the best,

Katy Collins
Director of Student Outreach & Engagement