Eastern’s newest dean, Diane Jackman, confronted a crowd of about 80 students and faculty members Tuesday night.

Her lecture, “What it means to be a professional: Growing as a teacher,” was intended to encourage professionalism among education majors.

“I want (students) to really understand what being a professional is,” said Jackman, dean of the college of education and professional studies. “And (I want them to understand) that teaching is one the greatest professions that there is.”

She asked the audience to ask themselves whether they are the type of teacher or the type of individual they would want working with their own children.

“We need to raise the awareness that everything (students) are involved with does impact them as a person,” she said.

She said that things other than students’ dress, appearance and language can affect them being hired. She warned them that their Facebook and MySpace accounts as well as voicemails could also give administrators a negative perspective of them.

Kaitlyn Most, sophomore education major, said that she had never considered how much her Web Sites and voicemails could affect her appearance. “I was surprised she brought that to our attention,” she said.

In her lecture, Jackman outlined seven components she believes people need to follow to be professionals: Look at the ‘big picture,’ seek personal development, have certain attributes and qualities, take risks, join professional organizations, have enjoyment, and work on a professional image.

She told aspiring teachers that all different schools are going to have different systems, but that all schools are looking for the same outcome-making students successful.

Many of her views have changed since she visited Thailand just after the 2004 tsunami.

“It was a wonderful educational and personal experience for me,” said Jackman. “I learned that their goals are the same as ours. To prepare professionals as best as possible.”

She said a professional should be dependable, creative, fair, flexible, loyal and dedicated among many other things, adding that they should also be risk-takers. “View obstacles as challenges,” she said.

Jackman said although professionals need to stand their ground, more often than not they should try to compromise with others.

But most of all, she said educators need to enjoy what they do. “This is too critical of a profession for you not to enjoy it,” she told the audience.

But some students went to the 30-minute lecture expecting a bit more.

“A lot of the stuff was stuff that my mom told me,” said Ila Wheaton, junior special education major.

“I’ve already been told these things,” said Most. “A little more interaction with the audience would have been nice to keep (the presentation) upbeat.”