PSU's Unsung Heroes: Tim Keefe

"I was under the impression that you came to ask me who I thought the university's unsung heroes were. Instead, you want me to talk about myself as an unsung hero," remarks Tim Keefe, Plymouth State University's Dean of Students. Keefe insisted that there are dozens of faculty and students who were the real "unsung heroes," yet he can't sell himself short. Keefe is unanimously regarded as an indispensable asset to the university community.
Throughout his long career here at Plymouth State, Keefe has collaborated with students, guiding count¬less young adults toward a positive path in the real world. Dean Keefe hails from Salem, Massachusetts, and moved between his home state and New Hampshire throughout his childhood, finally settling in upstate New York for his high school years.
He attended the State University of New York (SUNY) at Potsdam, earning a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.
Keefe later received a Master's degree in Counseling from Plymouth State University. After receiving his K-8 teaching certification, he briefly worked for SUNY Potsdam before applying for various teaching positions, including a position as the Resident Director of Blair Hall here at Plymouth.
As fate would have it, Keefe was offered three teaching positions the day after accepting Plymouth's offer, yet wouldn't trade his thirty seven year old career at the university for anything. "Every time I figured it was time to search for another job, another opportunity at the university would present itself," Keefe recalls, smiling. He held various positions at the university before taking his current position as Plymouth's Dean of Student Affairs, which allotted him one-on-one student interaction. Regardless of his title, Keefe has remained a steadfast advocate for the student body.
"Everybody makes mistakes, and nobody should be judged by your one success or your one mistake; it's how you respond to the situation that truly matters," said Keefe. Adding that he holds high hopes that this message rings clear for the entire student body.
Keefe's focus is almost always on the students, assisting them in learning to live gainfully and to harness the tools needed to succeed in their future lives. "Take advantage of this smorgasbord of opportunity," Keefe urges undergraduates, citing the myriad of clubs and organizations on campus available.
Naturally, college is a time to learn and grow as a person, but according to Keefe, above all, this time is meant "to teach you how to take care of yourself and to realize that sometimes, you have to take a little time for you. Why do you think airplane safety videos instruct you to put your own oxygen mask on first?" the Dean rhetorically questioned.
"If I had to zero in on what is the underlying goal that I have when working with students, it is effectively helping students learn and grow, to navigate the university, and to understand that all students are at a different place. Not everyone has reached the same level of maturity, which is why I try to understand each student as an individual, and guide them toward the level they want to achieve."