Fall Semester 2022 Kicks Off at WAU

Washington Adventist University welcomed 62 Freshmen this Fall. To start the semester, the Betty Howard Center for Student Success culminated their tireless efforts to welcome and engage the new students entering WAU as new freshmen and providing them a taste of WAU’s culture as they start their academic journey. While most of the events occurred during the New Student Orientation week (August 21-27), Dr. Betty Johnson, newly appointed Dean for Student Success, shared a new initiative that preceded Orientation, “Welcome Days,” which took place during the Summer. Approximately 42 prospective students visited WAU for a campus tour, individual sessions with faculty advisors, financial aid and account representatives, connecting with their cohort, and meeting the Center staff. This enriching experience was just a precursor of activities to come. All greeted the students, answered questions, prayed with them, and learned more about their interests. 

Dr. Johnson shared some of the most “influential activities,” as she puts it, that had significant impact and added much value to the New Student Orientation experience. The Gateway Dinner was a highlight and well-attended event, hosting both students and their families. As customary, the dinner was followed by the Gateway Ceremony, where new students gave their pledge to work hard and to become part of the WAU culture, then afterward marched through the Gateway to Service arch and thus were officially welcomed into the WAU family. As shared by the students, another high point in the week was Bafa Bafa, a cross-cultural simulation led by Dr. Ralph Johnson, Dean for Student Life. This exercise allowed students to immerse themselves in a foreign culture and learn to navigate the experience through observation. The object of this activity was to model what could happen in diverse settings on campuses like WAU. They were told that the approach should be one of patience and respect- having an open mind towards the various cultural dynamics represented on campus and in the classroom. Students also participated in the popular Ropes Course–a team building exercise. Additional highlights throughout the week were many ranging from the faculty panel, where faculty shared their expectations for the students, to the ice cream social, and to culminate the activities on Friday evening with a Consecration Service, a spiritual and solemn event featuring new students as the main participants. 

“I cannot say enough about our student leaders both FYE and OPAL, who planned, participated, and went above and beyond,” says Dr. Johnson. They were phenomenal! In addition to the student leaders, Dr. Johnson shared her profound and most genuine gratitude to the BHCSS staff, the faculty engaged in sessions and presentations, and many others who made themselves available and assisted in this process.  

Although New Student Orientation is over, Dr. Johnson reminds ALL students that she has an open-door policy and encourages them to stop by whenever they need to reflect, meditate, seek advice or just to have a quiet space to study. She desires to see each student succeed as they blossom into a higher, much-developed version of themselves as competent moral leaders. 

“My professional experiences have been broad and vast. I have a lot to thank God for,” says Dr. Johnson. While this is her first year at WAU as the Dean of Student Success and the FYE Coordinator , this is not her first rodeo. Returning to WAU, Dr. Johnson previously served at Columbia Union College (CUC) as the Director of Student Support Services from 1996 to 2000 before she left for a fellowship in Boston. During the 21 years away from WAU, Dr. Johnson served in multiple capacities at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. WAU is proud and delighted to welcome Dr. Johnson back as she reigns in guiding and preparing our students for success at WAU and beyond.