Dennis Blew

Background

About Dennis Blew

As a first generation immigrant and naturalized US citizen, my family's history and experiences have uniquely shaped my goals and aspirations. My parents escaped communism to give me a new life and opportunities they could have never have imagined, and no single opportunity in my life has meant as much, or been as important to me, as my education. My educational path started with a simple desire to be a college professor, teaching and mentoring the future generation of Political Science students. However, it was during my times as a Political Science PhD student, that my path, passions, and aspirations changed. Working at UC Irvine, I was surrounded by students that inspired me. As much as I was teaching them, I was learning from them as well. These were students who were first generation immigrants, many of them Dreamers, were the first to go to college in their family, and were attending university to provide a better life for themselves and fulfill the same hopes and dreams that my parents had for me. These experiences changed what I wanted to do and how I wanted my professional career to serve others. Instead of teaching and mentoring the next era of Political Scientists, my ambitions changed to help serve those students who reminded me of my family and myself. From the first generation immigrant student, to the single parent attending classes between jobs, to the students who are the first in their family to walk through the halls of a college campus, I want to promote, support, and serve all those who see their education as the vital gift it is. Currently, I am a college administrator working as a Program Manager in the Enrollment Services Department of Clark College. With my 7+ years of experience in higher education and college administration, I help support faculty, staff, and students from technical support to business process analysis. When I'm not working, you'll be able to find me spending time with my lovely wife Lexi, and our English Bulldog, Eleanor.