First-Year Team

Meet the First-Year staff in Academic Services

In the Office of Academic Services there are three staff members who work specifically with first-year students. They provide:

• Academic Advising
• Personal Support
• Transitioning to Babson

Dan Kwash
Assistant Director, First-Year Dean

M.Ed in Counseling/Higher Education, Bridgewater State University
Bachelor of Arts in History/Secondary Education, Bridgewater State University

Dean Kwash provides both personal and academic support for all students in the class. In addition, he oversees the First-Year Seminar Program, assists with the implementation of Orientation, and supervises the First-Year Team. At the start of the sophomore year, students are assigned a new Class Dean who remains with the cohort for their last three years at Babson.

Fun Facts: Dan is a life-long resident of Massachusetts and is an avid college and professional sports fan. Dan also enjoys playing sports and working out (especially early in the morning at the Webster Center). However, Dan’s favorite pastime is spending time with his family.

Advice for First-Year Students: I would suggest balancing your school work and having fun. You are going to find yourself transitioning in a variety of ways to your new surroundings. You will be spending a lot more time with your academics compared to high school but also make sure that you have some time for yourself as well. Make sure to take advantage of all the extra-curricular activities/clubs/organizations that Babson College has to offer.

Contact Dan:
dkwash@babson.edu
781-239-4075

Brian Duggan
Assistant Class Dean, First-Year Programs

M.B.A. Babson College
M.A. in Higher Education Administration and College Student Development, Boston College
Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, College of the Holy Cross

Dean Duggan provides academic and personal support to First-Year students, Exchange Students, and Transfer Students.

Fun Facts: Brian is a TV junkie who likes to live on goldfish (crackers) and chocolate chip cookies. When he’s not at work or in front of the TV, he enjoys running, reading, sitting on the beach, and building houses with Habitat for Humanity.

Advice for First-Year Students: Be prepared to try new things. College is a very different experience from high school. Methods you used in high school to be successful (to manage your time, study for exams, prepare a reading assignment, and write essays, etc.) may not be the best methods to use in college. Be prepared to try new things and to adapt to the new environment. That and establish a firm handshake.

Contact Brian:
bduggan@babson.edu
781-239-5121

Conor O’Brien
Program Manager, First-Year Programs

M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs, University of South Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Digital Design, Quinnipiac University

Conor advises first-year students, trains and oversees the Peer Mentor Program, assists in the implementation of the First-Year Seminar Class, and Orientation.

Fun Facts: Conor enjoys golfing, ultimate frisbee, watching TV, and cooking (and eating!). As a fun fact, with a background in graphic design, Conor can name most common fonts just by looking at them!

Advice for First-Year Students: Take advantage of all the opportunities Babson has to offer. For academics, utilize tutoring, learning centers, and your Class Dean for academic advising. Outside of the classroom, join a club/organization or play an intramural sport. Lastly, take advantage of the faculty and staff on campus – take time to get to know them, they have a lot to offer, and you never know when you’ll need a good reference.

Contact Conor:
cobrien3@babson.edu
781-239-6302