Every year, students elect a new Vice Dean to represent them before the Dean and in the various faculty bodies (Management Council, Academic Council, etc.). This year, Florian is taking over from Salomé. Read his interview here: learn more about his background, his role in supporting students, and the initiatives he plans to launch throughout this academic year! An Interview.
Hello, Florian! You were recently elected Vice Dean of Students at the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine. Could you tell us a little more about yourself?
Hello! My name is Florian Mary. I’m currently a senior in medical school in Montpellier, and I’m originally from Perpignan (Go USAP! 🟡🔴).
To put it briefly, you know, I don't think there are any right or wrong choices, but like many others, I haven't decided on my future path yet; I have several specialties in mind, including General Practice.
You are now the Student Vice Dean: what does your role entail?
It’s important to note that the VDE is, first and foremost, a student representative, and like any elected official, my term will last two years.
Our shared responsibility is therefore to represent students before the faculty’s academic and administrative bodies (the UFR, to be precise), whether during council meetings or committee sessions.
Nevertheless, for the next year, I will be responsible for tasks specific to the VDE, which include serving as the primary point of contact for the Dean and faculty representatives on all matters concerning students, and managing the team of student representatives and ADEMMOOS to ensure maximum efficiency in handling various issues and advancing the association’s development.
Furthermore, communication with other student organizations and academic programs within the faculty is essential, whether it involves a project idea, student representation, or facilitating certain exchanges. I believe 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 this a commitment you wanted to make from the very beginning of your studies?
Before my term as an elected official and VDE, I had already spent two years involved in student organizations, first as a mentor and then as Vice President of Student Affairs at the Montpellier Medical Student Union, driven by a desire to be there to help students.
And I have to say that the experiences and the people I’ve met this year at ACM—whether it’s everyone in my class, the “senior” VP Reprez, and Salomé, of course—have played a big part in that.
I was curious, and I felt this position was a great opportunity to continue contributing to the students and the life of the faculty.
How do you balance your duties as Associate Dean with your responsibilities as a student?
So it requires a certain amount of organization, and last year was particularly helpful in that regard, especially because I was juggling a very demanding schedule of volunteer work and academic studies.
But I set aside my volunteer shifts at lunchtime so I can usually keep my work hours in the evening.
What are your goals for this term? What projects do you hope to carry out?
So our primary goal is to continue the projects started by previous boards, whether it’s the flu vaccination campaign, the Future Interns Forum…
This year, we have a perfect blend of experience and fresh ideas, and it really shows in our projects.
We want to ramp up our communication efforts, building on last year’s momentum—especially through ADEMMOOS’s Instagram (👉 go follow if you haven’t already)—while also staying active on other platforms.
Reforms are, of course, at the heart of our mandates, and well-being and sustainable development are also areas where new ideas emerge.
What are the most common requests from students?
Usually, it’s just about setting up a beer tap in the cafeteria 🙃.
More seriously, these are mainly questions about how our studies are organized and proposals for changes that require discussion with the school administration and teachers.
Student representatives serve as a channel for students to make their voices heard, and this is a theme that runs through many of the messages.
The health crisis is having a significant impact on students' lives right now. Do you have a message you'd like to share on this occasion?
I think that given the times we're living in, it's important to take care of ourselves and others.
Reach out to your family and friends, share your thoughts, chat, and talk with them—but don’t stay isolated. And if you need help, you can always turn to us; there will always be someone there to respond.
And take this opportunity to watch some classic movies—no more excuses for missing out on *The Green Mile* or *Forrest Gump* 🍿.
If students have questions for you or want to bring something to the attention of the management board, how can they contact you?
It’s very simple: through ADEMMOOS’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, or via email 📩 for those who prefer that method at ademmos.elus.etudiants@gmail.com.
Or they can just come talk to us—we’re all really nice and we don’t bite!
One last question: what advice would you give to students who are interested in becoming an associate dean? How can they achieve this, and what do you think are the essential qualities for this role?
So, I think that having experience in the nonprofit sector—whatever form it takes—can be helpful and will give you an extra edge for the job, as well as allowing you to gain valuable 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 commitment to doing a good job will work in your favor.
After all, you’re not alone, and being a VDE is, above all, about being part of a team.
Having a great team like the one I’m part of is therefore essential to making this term as successful as possible!
Thank you very much for your time! We wish you all the best during your term and thank you for your dedication!
