Dean is a 2004 graduate of Calvin, with a BA in Mass Media Studies. Throughout his college career he was deeply connected to worship life on campus. His gifts in singing, liturgy and technology were well-used during his two years in the Worship Apprentice program. The program was a natural fit for Dean, who already in high school was involved in planning church youth group and school chapel services. As a Worship Apprentice (WA), Dean was active in planning and leading the L.O.F.T. (Living Our Faith Together), the Sunday evening worship service on campus. During his first year as a WA, he had the opportunity to apply for another new program, Jubilee Fellows, designed for students considering a future in church ministry. Upon his acceptance, Dean remarked, "I am excited about being a part of a potentially long-standing program at its genesis, to mold and make the program into a powerful time where 12 students learn about their vocation, a true calling from God."

As a Jubilee Fellow, Dean was sent on a 10-week internship to Jersey City, New Jersey to work with New City Kids Church. This stretching experience exposed Dean to aspects of ministry he might not have considered otherwise.

“Lilly based programs and initiatives taught me more about what motivates me and what passions and gifts I possess than normal classroom learning could have ever given me. Through my experiences, my theory of ministry continually grew and informed my practice of ministry, which, in turn, informed and grew my theory...The programs impacted my college experience because I ended up exploring an avenue of vocation that I wouldn't have otherwise pursued if I had stuck to the confines of my academic major.”

Dean is currently pursuing a Master’s of Divinity at Western Theological Seminary. He cites his involvement in Lilly-funded programs at Calvin as a main reason he was able to discern this call. For Dean, the concept of vocation is part of everyday life.

“My vocation is to be as faithful a disciple to Jesus Christ as I possibly can, and exploring, step by step in the providence of God's guiding light, the path marked out for me by God in the journey of life. The key to vocation is simply living, and being attuned to where the Holy Spirit is already at work.”

As Dean stays attuned to the work of the Holy Spirit, he plans “to keep living and keep on trying to be a faithful disciple.”