A TikTok video posted shortly after the D’Amore-McKim School of Business undergraduate ceremony May 8 thrust Dean David De Cremer into virality and earned him the label of “foine dean.”
The video, posted by D’Lani Sweeney, a 2025 business administration and computer science combined graduate, shows De Cremer donning academic regalia and walking toward the stage in Matthews Arena. Overlaid text reads, “When you see your dean for the first time in 4 years and he’s FOINE asf.” After De Cremer leaves the frame, the camera pans to another graduate who says, “He’s so fine.” As of May 20, the video has amassed 17.5 million views and 2.1 million likes on TikTok.
In the wake of his newfound stardom, De Cremer created his own TikTok account, which has already garnered over 11,000 followers and nearly 900,000 likes across six videos. His content, focused on his life as dean of Northeastern’s business school and graduation ceremonies, leans into the “foine” video. His TikTok bio in part reads, “A.k.a FOINE Dean.”
De Cremer’s most popular video features him running in graduation attire through Centennial Common to Matthews Arena to give his undergraduate ceremony speech, with overlaid text reading, “pov: you’re the dean, you’ve got 3 ceremonies to attend and 2000 hands to shake.” The video has accrued 6 million views and 883,000 likes as of May 20.
@dlanisweeney “HES SO FOINE” over the academic procession music is killing me #graduation #college #collegegraduation #northeasternuniversity #graduation2025 #businessadminstration #fineshyt ♬ Hes So FOOIINNEE – D’Lani Sweeney
De Cremer started in his role as Dunton Family Dean of the D’Amore-McKim School of Business in 2024, where he is also a professor of management and technology. Before joining Northeastern, he was the provost chair and a professor of management at the National University of Singapore, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has also taught and conducted research at other universities, including Stanford, Harvard and Yale.
Another TikTok about the dean, posted May 12 — the day after the undergraduate commencement at Fenway Park and four days after the initial video — has also grown in virality, reaching just over 600,000 views. The video shows De Cremer walking with colleagues and waving to students with text saying, “i fear the rumors are true.” The video, posted by Claire Ou, a 2025 business administration graduate, has gained over 25,000 likes as of May 20. In his commencement speech, De Cremer referenced the viral TikTok, saying, “Despite all the challenges out there, I’m sure you’re all going to be ‘foine.’”
