Dr. Michael Olin, dean of Mathey College at Princeton University, dropped by Chapel last week for an informal chat with Reverend David Hallgren. Since School opened in September, many conversations on campus have centered around this year’s Chapel theme of “inspired to excellence.” That theme was at the heart of the exchange between Hallgren and Olin, with Olin answering questions about the things that inspire him and the true meaning of excellence.

Olin draws inspiration from the diversity and intellectual curiosity at Princeton, and advised Pennington students to focus on their own curiosity and passion, instead of fixating on always being flawless. When asked to describe individual excellence, the dean replied, “One thing it is not is perfectionism.” He instructed the students to instead concentrate on being good listeners, respecting others, caring about their work, maintaining perspective, and grounding themselves in their own values. 

At Princeton, Olin certainly sees his share of exceptional students, but he cautioned that often when students have previously excelled in school or found their paths easy, it can be incredibly difficult for them to ask for assistance when they need it. “The marker of an excellent learner is being able to ask for help,” he said. 

Olin, who previously held roles at NYU, Columbia University, and Seton Hall, has been with Princeton since 2007, serving in a variety of capacities including as the school’s first college transition specialist, where he was responsible for focusing on the needs of marginalized and underrepresented students. Olin obtained a bachelor of arts in psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MS in counseling at Loyola University, and a PhD in higher education administration at NYU.

His parting advice for students considering higher education options was to think about the right fit: “Be open; don’t get wrapped up in rankings,” he counseled, encouraging students to pay attention to the campuses that feel like home when they are out touring colleges and universities. Beyond their next academic institution, he suggested that students find the thing that is most meaningful and enjoyable to them to pursue for a future career. “Having that passion for a subject helps tremendously on the path to success.”