Daine Pavloski ’13 serves as assistant professor of journalism and mass communication (JMC) at The University of Olivet. His teaching schedule usually includes many of the hands-on, practical courses that make up the JMC curriculum, like Photography and Visual Communication and Video Production. Professor Pavloski was motivated to teach at OC by the many relationships he built as a student and how those relationships have since contributed to his success. His passion for Olivet’s student media hasn’t faded, and he now advises the student-led radio station on campus, WOCR 89.1 FM. Professor Pavloski is excited to be making an impact in the lives of students and loves helping them reach their “light bulb” moments.
Why do you love The University of Olivet?
I love The University of Olivet because it truly is an amazing place. The relationships formed between faculty and students are unique and unlike anything I’ve experienced at any level of academics before. Whenever I think about why I love Olivet, I think about my time here and Joanne Williams, assistant professor of JMC. During the end of my career as a student at OC, I needed some advising help and Joanne stepped in and helped me out, even though I wasn’t her advisee. Even after I graduated, she made a point to stay connected.
Even in my short time as a full-time faculty member, I’ve seen the impact I can have on the lives of students in just one year.
What is your favorite memory from your time at OC?
I have many! As a student, one of the coolest things was my time at WOCR. I hosted many sports talk shows with friends and family, including my brother, Nick Pavloski ’09, and now wife, Erin (Jarvie) Pavloski ’13, and broadcasted over 100 sporting events as the play-by-play broadcaster.
As a faculty member, I am still excited by the general awesomeness of building close relationships with students as they try to find their way on campus and in the world.
What is your teaching style like?
I’d like to think my teaching style is entertaining, but it’s probably something closer to energetic and loud. I try to keep things light, joking around when I can. I’ve sat through a lot of lectures in a lot of classrooms with a lot of professors in my life, so I try to make my classroom interesting and entertaining for students. Now, that doesn’t mean there won’t be lectures (sorry, students), but I try to make things as fun as I can while still making sure everyone is getting everything they need out of each class period.
What’s the average day in your role, or some of the unique things you are responsible for?
I teach! Every day is a little different depending on what classes I’m teaching, but usually I’ll be either in my office updating Blackboard, grading or sending emails, in our new video studio space in the Conservatory setting the studio up for class or in WOCR preparing things there.
Then, after teaching I head back to my office and hold office hours. I also have the pleasure of overseeing WOCR 89.1 FM, our FCC-licensed, student-run radio station as the faculty adviser. I essentially help advise the station manager and make sure things at the station are running smoothly, along with working with our engineer, trouble-shooting any issues and doing quality control of shows.
Why do you encourage students to attend OC?
I encourage students to attend OC because you can’t get an experience like this anywhere else. Yes, there are lots of small colleges out there, but there’s no where like Olivet. Every single person that works on campus, faculty or staff, cares about the students. We all want every single student to succeed and we’re more than willing to go above and beyond to help make that happen, regardless of a student’s goals or situation.
This rings especially true for students interested in journalism. At a lot of big schools, you don’t even get a whiff of being on-air or getting a byline until you’re a senior. At Olivet you can be on-air or write for the Echo from day one on campus. If a student truly wants to succeed and is ready to put in the work to make it happen, we’ll make it happen.
What do you look forward to in your role?
One thing I especially look forward to in my role as a professor is when students enroll in one of my classes like Photography or Sports Writing thinking they’re just doing it for the credits, but surprise themselves and come to love the subject matter. Every semester I see this in Photography and Visual Communication, where students come in because they needed the creative experience credits but end up being one of the best photographers in the class.
Also, not to sound cliche, but the “light bulb moment” is always incredibly rewarding. That moment where it clicks and students start to really get something. One of the biggest ones every semester is when I show my Video Production students how green screens work.
What advice do you share with students?
A big thing I say to students is that there’s no such thing as “it’s just Olivet.” Just because we’re small doesn’t mean great things can’t be done by people here. There are endless examples throughout Olivet’s storied history, whether it’s Father Shipherd, the first graduating class or even Dave Cutler ’65, people that go through Olivet and truly appreciate it for what it has to offer can do anything they want to.
What is an interesting or little known fact about yourself?
I’m a huge professional wrestling nerd and nerd in general. I love video games and tabletop board games, usually ones that involve hours of setup and WAY too many tiny pieces, and I’m trying to learn how to play the ukulele. I love the outdoors, walks with my wife and dog, and am confident that I can beat anyone that reads this in cribbage and Euchre.
Learn more about The University of Olivet by visiting campus and connecting with awesome professors, like Professor Pavloski, and don’t forget to challenge him to your favorite board game. Contact the Office of Admissions at 800.456.7189 or admissions@uolivet.edu for questions.