Dr. John W. Deans
Dr. Deans has a long history with the college and surrounding community; watching it grow as well as having a hand in that growth.
He started his career at JCC in 1967 as a history and political science professor.
“When I first entered the college in the fall of 1963 it had about 100 full-time students and maybe 125 part-time,” Dr. Deans said. “And over the years it has served thousands of students, many of whom would never have had the opportunity for high education.”
Dr. Deans served as chair of the social sciences department from 1972 to 1976, then as chair of the liberal arts division from 1977 to 1984. He was academic dean from 1984 to 1991 and was appointed the third president of the college in 1992, where he served until he retired in 2003.
The year of Dr. Deans’ retirement SUNY Potsdam awarded him with its Distinguished Service Award for his extensive community service in Jefferson County. Under Dr. Deans’ leadership JCC forged a relationship with SUNY Potsdam to offer higher-level degrees and courses to JCC students.
He also created several programs that connect the college to the surrounding community. He created the college’s Center for Community Studies, which surveys local communities’ needs. He also established the college’s Small Business Development Center and expanded workforce training opportunities.
Dr. Deans was chairman of the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, which raises awareness of the benefits Fort Drum provides the surrounding community. He also worked with the Northern New York Community Foundation, Hospice of Jefferson County, the Children’s Home of Jefferson County, Jefferson County Job Development Corp., United Way of Northern New York and the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce.
In April 2016 Jefferson Community College officially dedicated its new Collaborative Learning Center to Dr. Deans. To honor him and his work for the college it is called the John W. Deans Collaborative Learning Center.
This scholarship is awarded to a traditional, continuing, full-time student in the Liberal Arts & Sciences, Mathematics, or Engineering Science Programs. Student must have a GPA of 3.0