Each year, a new Vice Dean is elected by the students to represent them before the Dean and in the various faculty bodies (management council, teaching council, etc.). This year, Florian is succeeding Salomé. Read his interview here to find out more about him, his role in supporting students, and the projects he hopes to implement throughout this academic year. Let's meet him.
Hello Florian! You were recently elected Vice Dean of Students at the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine. Can you tell us more about yourself?
Hello! My name is Florian Mary, I am currently in my fourth year of medical school in Montpellier, and I am originally from Perpignan (Go USAP! 🟡🔴).
In short, you know, I don't think there are good or bad situations, but I think that, like many people, I haven't yet decided on my future situation. I have several ideas for specializations in mind, including general medicine.
You are now Vice Dean for Student Affairs: what does your role involve?
It is important to note that the VDE is first and foremost an elected student representative, and like any elected representative, my term of office will last for two years.
Our shared task is therefore to represent students before the faculty's educational and administrative bodies (the UFR, to be precise), whether during council meetings or committee meetings.
Nevertheless, for one year, I will be in charge of specific VDE tasks, which include acting as the main point of contact for the Dean and faculty representatives for all student-related issues, and managing the team of elected representatives and ADEMMOOS in order to be as effective as possible in handling various issues and developing the association.
Furthermore, communication with other associations and departments within the faculty is essential, whether in relation to project ideas, student representation, or the facilitation of certain exchanges. I believe that these connections offer us new perspectives for reflection and allow us to lift each other up.
What motivated you to take on this role? Was it something you wanted to commit to from the start of your studies?
Before my term as an elected representative and VDE, I had already spent two years immersed in the world of associations, first as a tutor, then as VP Representation at the Montpellier Medical Student Union, driven by a desire to be there to help students.
And I must say that the experience and encounters I had during this year at ACM, whether it was with everyone in my student body, the "old" VP Reprez and Salomé of course, played a big part in that.
I was curious and found that this position was a great opportunity to continue investing in students and faculty life.
How do you juggle your duties as Vice Dean with your obligations as a student?
So it requires a certain amount of organization, and last year was particularly helpful in that regard, especially because I combined very intensive work with associations and university studies.
But I reserve my association slots at lunchtime so that I can generally keep my working hours in the evening.
What are your goals for this term? What projects do you want to carry out?
So the primary objective is to continue the projects of previous administrations, whether it be flu vaccinations, the Intern Futures Forum, etc.
This year, we have a clever mix of experience and new ideas, and this is evident in the projects.
We want to boost communication in the same vein as last year, particularly with ADEMMOOS' Instagram account (👉 go follow if you haven't already), but also by remaining active on other networks.
Reforms are, of course, at the heart of our mandates, and well-being and sustainable development are also areas in which ideas are born.
What are the most common requests from students?
Generally, it means installing a beer tap in the coffee shop.
More seriously, these are mainly questions about the organization of our studies and proposals for changes that require discussion with the school administration and teachers.
Elected representatives act as a conduit for students, ensuring their voices are heard, and this is reflected in many of the messages.
The health situation is having a major impact on students' lives right now. Do you have a message you would like to share at this time?
I think that with the times we are going through, it is important to take care of ourselves and others.
Reach out to your family and friends, exchange ideas, discuss, talk with them, but don't stay alone, and if necessary, you can turn to us, there will always be someone to respond.
And take the opportunity to watch some movie classics—no more excuses for missing out on The Green Mile or Forrest Gump.
If students have questions for you or want to bring something up with the management board, how can they contact you?
It's very simple: via ADEMMOOS' Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, or by email 📩 for purists at ademmos.elus.etudiants@gmail.com.
Or they can also come and talk to us—we're all very friendly and we don't bite!
One last question: what advice would you give to students who want to become Vice Dean? How can they achieve this, and what qualities do you think are essential for this role?
So, I already think that knowing the non-profit sector, whatever it may be, can help and will give you additional skills for the job, as well as allowing you to gain experience.
Next, you need to be aware of the amount of work involved and the importance of the position, but don't worry—good organization and a desire to do well will make all the difference in your favor.
Finally, you are not alone, and being a VDE means above all being part of an office.
Having a good team like the one I belong to is therefore essential for fulfilling the mandate as best as possible!
Thank you very much for your time! We wish you all the best for your term of office and thank you for your commitment!
