Living in West Palm Beach, Florida, A.J. Lacoursiere ‘28OD is used to warm temperatures and lots of sunshine.
But the first-year optometry student’s initial exposure to Salus at Drexel University’s Dean’s Winterfest offered something completely different — freezing temperatures and a light snow.
However, that did not discourage Lacoursiere at all.
“It’s perfect. This is my first time seeing snow in a while. It’s quite an adjustment,” said Lacoursiere, who is following his mother into the profession of optometry.
Held Jan. 16, 2025, one of the foundational reasons to have the Dean’s Winterfest in January, according to James Caldwell, OD ‘89, Resident ‘91, EdD, dean of Student Affairs and associate provost of Academic Affairs, is that “. . . even though it’s the darkness of the year and the coldness of the month, it marks the excitement a new semester.”
For Rebecca Zeiner ‘27AUD, the student ambassador coordinator who collaborated with the Office of Admissions to plan the event, the gathering was designed to welcome students back for the spring semester and offer them an opportunity to connect with Dr. Caldwell outside of his workspace. The event, which attracted approximately 150 students, featured a Mexican meal, bingo with prizes and other fun activities.
“It’s a chance (for students) to come here, have a meal, hang out with their friends and Dr. Caldwell and have a fun time,” said Zeiner.
For his part, Dr. Caldwell enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with the students in a non-academic setting. “Students do see me in my administrative role a majority of the time,” he said. “This is a chance for me to take off my administrative hat, to get to know the students better and for them to get to know me better.”
