Brandon Dean Awarded Swenson-Bunn Teaching Award Posted on May 19th, 2014 by Matt Thomas '00

Brandon Dean

Brandon Dean, Assistant Professor of Music and Conductor of the Choir of Christ Chapel and Lucia Singers at Gustavus Adolphus College, received the 2014 Swenson-Bunn Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence at the College’s Honors Day convocation on Saturday, May 3. The award, which is nominated and selected by students, has been presented annually since 1990.

Dean joined the Gustavus faculty in 2011 after completing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In addition to his DMA degree, Dean holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education from Luther College.

“Dr. Dean is one of those teachers whose passion for what they do is infectious,” Sophomore Jace Riggin ’16 said. “The life lessons and emotional maturity that I have taken away from my time in the Choir of Christ Chapel under his instruction will serve me well in my life and help me to navigate many of life’s journeys with compassion for others. Dr. Dean embodies what it means to teach with excellence and integrity.”

Sophomore Logan Boese ’16 added that “Dr. Dean has truly stood out to me as an amazing professor because of his passion for students. He comes to rehearsal every day with a smile on his face and a positive attitude that is contagious for everyone who is in his choirs. Dr. Dean has inspired me to continue singing at Gustavus even though I wasn’t sure if I wanted to after high school. Gustavus is truly fortunate to have such a great professor and I know that he is certainly deserving of this award.”

The Swenson-Bunn Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence honors the memory of two Gustavus students and members of the Student Senate, Greg Swenson and Holly Bunn, who were killed in a car accident in 1989.

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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510