[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/PhilWoodblog.jpg” caption=”Phil Wood, dean of students, started a blog in September that addresses diversity, athletics, leadership and neighbourhood relations. Photo by Brad Coburn. “]”Reaching students through blogging is simply the next step as communications evolve in our changing world,” says Phil Wood, McMaster's dean of students, about his new blog.

Started in September, the blog touches on topics of interest to students, parents, neighbours and the McMaster community. McMaster's “Dr. Phil” writes about diversity, athletics, leadership and neighbourhood relations — all topics that are close to his heart.

“We all feel drawn by media today and yet many of the topics that mean the most to our McMaster community are not covered in mainstream media,” he said. “So I felt compelled to add my voice, to speak out on what is important to me, to McMaster and, most particularly, to students.”

McMaster's Dr. Phil combines a lively interest in technology and its communications implications that's tempered by his inclination to speak rather than write. This is exemplified by his recent post on Web 2.0.1: “In the great scheme of innovation, I am not an early adopter. I am frequently though in the second wave, maybe in the early majority group.”

“I'm enjoying taking the time each week to collect my thoughts and do research on topics generally related to student life; perhaps that's the scholar that still resides in me coming through,” he said. “Each week as I go through the newspapers, books and many websites that I read, I collect items for future study — perhaps as possible topics for a posting. It also helps me keep better informed on the issues affecting students today, which enables me to do my job better.”

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