Robert “Dane” Groves
Senior Enrollment Advisor for Maryville University
A Former Actor, Dane Groves Has Found His Most Rewarding Role at Boundless Learning
As a professional actor, Robert “Dane” Groves worked with some of the world’s biggest stars.
For several years he served as George Clooney’s stand-in on ER. In the film U.S. Marshals, his character was shot by Robert Downey Jr. And in the video for Twista’s Mobstability, he played an FBI agent, chasing the rapper past some of Chicago’s most iconic locations.
As incredible as all this was, he says none of these roles were as fulfilling as his current one: Helping nurses further their education and reach new heights in their careers.
Guided by Personal Experience
Long before he became an actor, Dane had his sights set on going to college to earn a business degree and ultimately embarking on a career in law. But a meeting with a college enrollment advisor during his senior year of high school would alter the course of his life.
“This enrollment advisor was pushing me to study chemistry. I later found out he was the chair of the chemistry department and he had to make his number. He never listened to me or asked what I wanted to do,” he recalls.
Despite his reservations, Dane followed the advisor’s suggestion and started off as a chemistry major. “I wasn’t passionate about it and my grade point average initially suffered,” he says. “A year later when I tried to transfer into the business school, I wasn’t able to get in.”
“My Biggest Strength Is Listening”
Dane has been an enrollment advisor for more than 16 years, and he still leans on this experience to guide his own interactions with prospective learners.
“My biggest strength is listening,” he says. “I ask students what’s important to them and how we can help them meet their goals. I take careful notes so whenever they call me, we can immediately pick up where we left off.”
Based in Boundless Learning’s Chicago office, Dane has been with the organization for 11 years, supporting Maryville University’s online nursing programs the entire time. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in enrolling over 1,000 learners.
In addition to working directly with his population of students, some of Dane’s other responsibilities include training new hires, representing Maryville on webinars, and participating in partner-facing meetings.
He is also involved in a process called “second voicing,” which is designed to give extra attention to students who might be on the fence about enrolling.
“We have a system set up where an enrollment advisor will let me know if a student is wanting to defer or drop,” Dane explains. “I do a deep dive and reach out to that student to see if there’s something we can work out. Maybe I have information or additional resources that the advisor didn't have at their disposal. So, I try to see what I can do to help them meet their goals.”
Sharing His Passion and Program Knowledge
As one of the most tenured members of the Maryville team, Dane takes great pride in mentoring his colleagues.
“I try to be very supportive, especially in our team meetings and on our chats. I think my biggest contribution to the team, because of my longevity here, is my program knowledge. The whole healthcare field fascinates me, and I love sharing that passion with my coworkers.”
Dane is also quick to pass along best practices for building rapport with learners. He says a strong discovery call is key to identifying goals and mapping out the best path for achieving them. Asking the right questions is a crucial part of this process.
“I always ask students how they heard about Maryville, and they frequently say it was through online search,” he explains.
“Instead of just leaving it there, I ask them what they typed into the search engine. They might say something like ‘100% online program’ or ‘psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.’ Whatever their response, it gives me volumes of information about what’s important to them.”
Helping to Change the Face of Healthcare
Dane has a world of respect for the nurses he supports and says the most rewarding part of his job is being able to contribute to their career progression.
“Nurses are often in situations where the lives and wellbeing of their patients are in their hands,” he says, “and their training and education can make all the difference. It creates a student population that is very sincere and very education focused. As an enrollment advisor, it’s a privilege to work with them.”
He’s especially proud of the role he played in helping launch Maryville’s online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program in 2017.
“I was a strong advocate for this program because I knew there was a need. We were one of the first universities to launch it. I was on the front lines talking to students and telling them about this new opportunity. In our own small way, we were helping to change the face of healthcare.”
Giving 100% Every Day
As Dane celebrates his 11th anniversary at Boundless Learning, his enthusiasm for his job remains as strong as ever.
“I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this organization and a part of these students’ lives. Everyone here gives 100% every day. That’s what we ask of our nurses and health professionals, so that’s the least we can do for them.”