Dean’s Page Alumna: Grace Bunemann ’17, PCC, Medical School

By Ngoc Nguyen

Grace Bunemann ’17

Degree: B.S., polymer and color chemistry with a medical sciences concentration

Current position/employer: Second year Medical Student at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Dean’s page: August 2016 – May 2017

Tell us about your current role:

Since the start of the pandemic we have been in a hybrid learning environment. All of our classes are online and we attend a few in person activities a week to learn clinical skills. Outside of classes, I spend most of my time studying! I currently serve as the Spanish Language Interpreter for the Campbell University Community Care Clinic — a student run clinic providing medical care for the uninsured in the local community. Additionally, as class Vice President, I meet with other student leaders and administration to discuss and address student concerns.

Other NC State/Wilson College activities:

I was super active during my time at NC State! Specifically at Wilson College of Textiles I was involved in the Tompkins Textile Student Council, College of Textile Ambassador program, Kappa Tau Beta Textile Fraternity, and Sigma Tau Sigma Textile Honors Fraternity. Additionally, I participated in Pre-Med Subgroup, Kappa Delta Sorority, Alpha Epsilon Delta, Biochemistry Teaching Assistant, University Ambassador,  Order of Omega, and University Scholars Program. I volunteered with Service Raleigh, Relay for Life, Dance Marathon, Shack-a-thon, Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, Habitat for Humanity and served as a team member on an Alternative Service Break to Guatemala focusing on providing rural healthcare.

Looking back, what was it like being a dean’s page?

I loved being a page because it allowed me to interact with so many people within the college. During my time as a page, I was also serving as the Thompkins Textile Student Council President. Working in both roles simultaneously was incredibly beneficial! Working in the Dean’s Suite as a page allowed for close proximity and increased familiarity with the administrators I worked with as Council president.

What did you take away from the Dean’s Page Program that helped you in your current position?

I learned a truly invaluable amount about how higher education operated, which has helped greatly with my current position as Class Vice President during the ongoing pandemic! I have leveraged many of the transferable skills learned as a page in my current position and I believe they will continue to serve me well throughout my career as a physician.

What advice do you have for those who are new dean’s pages or interested in becoming one?

Do it!!! This is a very unique experience and will expose + connect you to many people and their positions. Organizational structures exist in every field — the first hand experience gained as a Dean’s Page expanded my knowledge and understanding of operations within a large institution. Not many people are afforded an opportunity to learn these skills so early in their careers and I am incredibly lucky I did!

What is the funniest time or most interesting experience you had as a dean’s page?

My funniest memory is from the day I volunteered to reorganize the Dean’s Suite supply closet. When I retrieved items for page tasks, it was not as organized as I preferred so I asked if it would be okay to take on the project! It ended up being a multi day project and I had so much time finding items that had been accidentally tucked away like the folders and papers from a conference held at the college in 1996! I found those in the very back of the closet; I still have and use the folder today!