Swacuho winter 2015 by SWACUHO

SWACUHO News Southwest Association of College & University Housing Officers

SWACUHO News - Winter 2015

From The President In Fall 2013, Joellen Tipton asked me if I would like to run for President of SWACUHO. Without hesitation I said “yes” because I thought I knew the work this position would present to me during my three years in the SWACUHO Presidential cycle. The work and opportunity I did not know about has been so much more fulfilling than I could have imagined. In my eight months as President I find myself humbled to be part of something so great. Working with colleagues from our region as they plan events such as SWACUHO U, SWACUHO RA Conference, the CHO Workshop, Mid-Year meeting and our annual conference truly is humbling. I am also thankful for our vendors and exhibitors who make this work and these events possible. During the Mid Year Meeting and Conference, the Executive Board recognized JC Stoner as the new Research, Assessment and Information Chair. We also accepted the

In This Issue: From The President.......................................................................... 1 2015-2016 SWACUHO Executive Board............................................ 2 Arkansas State Director.................................................................... 3 Mid-Level Update............................................................................. 4 Time and Place Update..................................................................... 5 Diversity & Social Justice Committee............................................... 6 Placement Committee...................................................................... 7 Ask Me if I’m OK............................................................................. 10 Blazing New Trails: SWACURH 2015 at Texas A&M........................ 12

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

resignation of Victor Duke as Exhibits and Displays chair and approved the appointment of Megan Witherspoon to this position until the close of the 2016 Conference. It is also exciting to announce that the Mid-Level Breakfast at the annual conference will become a Mid-Level reception hosted on Monday evening. Other business was the presentation of a Bid from Texas State San Marcos to host the 2018 Annual Conference. The bid was approved and a special thank you to Dave Cooper for working with Kyle Estes and Rita Staires on the presentation of the bid. All of this work, all of this time, and all of this energy is proof positive that SWACUHO is active and is actively contributing to the lives of our students, staff, and communities.

Kenny Mauk

SWACUHO President Student Housing & Residential Life Associate Director for Operations and Outreach University of Houston How to get the most out of your Conference Experience............... 15 RA Conference Wrap Up.................................................................. 16 Jester United: Reflections on a Successful Integration of Two Towers................................................ 18 Global Engagement: Fostering Intercultural Friendships................ 20 Professional FOMO in a Student Affairs World................................ 22 Oklahoma State University Opens New Residence Halls............................................................... 24 A&M Welcomes New Staff.............................................................. 26 H-Town Happenings!...................................................................... 28 Oklahoma State University Welcomes New Staff........................... 30 Sam Houston State University welcomes Residence Hall Director.... 31

2015-2016 SWACUHO Executive Board Kenny Mauk

Curtis Odle

Adonis Thompson

Tanya Massey

Rikki Turner

Maggie Guzman

Diane Brittingham

Dan Mizer

Chad Martin

Ele Luna

Whitney Paschall

President University of Houston kmauk@central.uh.edu President-Elect Oklahoma State University Tanya.Massey@okstate.edu Past President University of Oklahoma dbrittingham@ou.edu Secretary Southern Methodist University eeford@mail.smu.edu

Treasurer Baylor University curtis_odle@baylor.edu Technology Coordinator University of Arkansas- Little Rock rdturner@ualr.edu Historian Texas A&M University dan@housing.tamu.edu

Texas State Director Texas A&M University maggie_guzman@housing.tamu.edu Oklahoma State Director Southwestern Oklahoma State University chad.martin@swosu.edu

Newsletter Editor Texas Tech University whitney.paschall@ttu.edu

2015-2016 SWACUHO Executive Board

Arkansas State Director Arkansas State University athompson@astate.edu

2015-2016 SWACUHO Committee Chairs

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Arkansas State Director Hello SWACUHO!!! As we approach the 50th Annual SWACUHO Conference, a lot has been set in place to make it a success. Mid-Year has come and gone, programs have been picked, venues explored and now the final touches are being completed by the Host Committee. This is an exciting time for the Exec Board and Host Committee and we hope that you are just as excited for this milestone within our organization as we are. SWACUHO would not be the force it is, without the great people within it. As the conference approaches, there are many leadership opportunities that will be available. Every year there are chances to join committees and run for

positions within the organization. This is a great way to help get new ideas to spread throughout the region and also build a strong network of colleagues. If one has aspirations to grow within the organization, the best way to start on that path is being an active member on a committee. Little did I know that doing a few things with the Diversity & Social Justice committee and Programming committee back as a grad student, would lead to opportunities to become a committee chair when I returned as a professional. Now as a State Director, I want to be able to encourage and open doors of opportunities for others. I challenge institutions to push for their attendees to go out and grasp

these opportunities for growth. Encourage your professional staff to get involved and bring along a grad student who shows interest. These will be the next leaders of our organization and this committee's work will be the stepping stones that help them grow. Lastly, as we get closer to the end of the year be sure to renew your membership within SWACUHO. If you have any questions on how to go about this process or where your institution stands, feel free to contact me or your state director. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s make this one of the largest SWACUHOs in years, because 50 only comes by once.

Adonis Thompson Associate Director of Residence Life for Operations Arkansas State University

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

Mid-Level Update MID-LEVEL, MENTORS, MENTEES & MORE!!!!!! Mid-Level is looking forward to the annual conference. There will be plenty of programs that will appeal to our Mid-Level constituents. We have also worked with the Baylor host committee to change up the Mid-Level event held at annual conference. We plan to move from a breakfast to an evening reception. Stay tuned for more details regarding that change. During our October planning meeting, there was a great deal of support for re-introducing a Mentor-Mentee program. Interested participants can find the application links here:

Mentor Requirements • Mid-Level, SHO, or CHO position • 4+ years of experience • Introduce your mentee to other SWACUHO members • Encourage SWACUHO committee participation • Contact with mentee twice per month • Complete two assessments/surveys between 2016 annual conference and 2017 annual conference

MENTEE: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SWACUHOMentee MENTOR: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SWACUHOMentor Please note that we will start matching before the annual conference if we have enough applications. We ask that you forward this link to those who may be interested. We will also publicize through the SWACUHO and state list serves. Once we have our program up and running we will follow up with assessments/surveys to gauge satisfaction and needed improvements. MidLevel will also send out all recommended monthly talking points to help facilitate the conversation between mentor and mentee.

Mentee Requirements • New professional or entry level position • 0-3 years of experience • Contact with mentor twice per month • Complete two assessments/surveys between 2016 annual conference and 2017 annual conference

Katy Pelton Assistant Director for Hall Staff & Academic Initiatives Department of Residence Life Sam Houston State University

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Time and Place Update RA CONFERENCE

CHO Workshop

We would like to congratulate University of Texas at Arlington for hosting the RA Conference this Fall. The feedback has been great. Thank you to JC Stoner for taking the leadership in hosting with his team.

I will be taking bids for hosting location for Fall 2016 at the Annual Conference in Waco. We have put together a short bid process. If you are interested, please let me know.

At this point we do not have any bids for 2016, so please let me know if you are a bit interested and we can talk through the process. Please consider hosting this important event.

If you are interested in the bid process for hosting any of these great programs, please reach out to me at david.cooper@tcu.edu.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE Congratulations to Texas State University, San Marcos for their bid to host in Spring of 2018 that was accepted at this past Mid-Year! Get your outlet shopping shoes ready! Kyle Estes and his team put together a great proposal that should yield an amazing conference. With the rotation being set through 2018, we are looking for a host location in Oklahoma for 2019 and is not too early to start knocking on some Texas doors for 2020 or Arkansas for 2021!

David Cooper

Texas Christian University

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

Diversity & Social Justice Committee Greetings SWACUHO! My how time is flying this semester! We have moved from the rustling of move-in paperwork to the rustling of autumnal leaves, we are reminded of the passing of time. As I thought about what to share for this month’s newsletter I was struck by the concept of time and change. The year 2015 has seen some monumental strides for certain identities, and changes were witnessed that some thought would never come. Yet, if you are a member of any kind of social media and have even a passing interest in the news, you have seen that not much has changed in terms of oppressive machinations and micro aggressions. As the chill of autumn sets in and we find ourselves in the midst of Homecoming celebrations and making plans for breaks, I want to challenge all of us to reflect on the changes we see in our staff and residents. Whether they have moved past the first timid days of living amongst strangers or are seasoned pros at living on campus, and whether they are aware of it or not, our charges our changing, and we must ask ourselves, “What role am I playing in that change?”. The fall is a great time to evaluate our work and examine our own ally behavior. While days are shorter (and it may be

great napping weather) we must remember that every interaction is a chance to educate, learn, and grow with our residents. The committee hopes that you bring your reflections and experiences with you to the conference this year and are ready to engage in meaningful dialogue. Speaking of the conference, before you know it we will all be seeing one another in Waco, TX for our annual conference! At this year’s Mid-Year we were able to see our host location and see some of the surprises our Host Committee has in store for us, and I assure you this year’s conference is not to be missed! In addition to seeing our host site, I and other members of the committee had the opportunity to work with the Programming Committee to select programs for sponsorship from the DSJ committee (shout out to members who pulled double duty as members of both committees!!!) and I am ecstatic over the diverse array of topics that are being presented this year. We are excited and we hope that you are, too. Until next time, keep changing lives and push against your learning edge!

Patrick Miller Chair, Diversity and Social Justice Committee University of Texas at Arlington

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Placement Committee Hello from your Placement Committee! Let’s start with the great news- our SWACUHO proposals were accepted, and we will be offering two placement sessions at Baylor! Both sessions will be interactive workshops that benefit those contemplating a job search, as well as those with potential vacancies.

Use this opportunity to sharpen your interview skills by participating in a quick mock interview with a mid- or senior-level professional. The room will be set up similar to TPE, so you can get the feeling of interviewing around hundreds of your closest friends. J

Those considering a job search will have the opportunity to sit, one-on-one, with a seasoned hiring manager to review and discuss your resume. You can send me (marietta.delarosa@utsa.edu) your resume prior to our conference, or you can just bring it with you. This session is titled “Make that resume Au-wesome!” Au=gold….get it?

Now, in order to make this happen, our committee needs other seasoned professionals to assist with these sessions. You can volunteer for both or just one…. any time you can spare would be greatly appreciated. Please, please, please e-mail me directly and let me know how much time you can spare. Each of these sessions are scheduled for 60 minutes. Bonus for you– get an opportunity to meet some possible candidates for your potential vacancies! It’s a win-win for our SWACUHO Nation!!

The second session is titled “Go from Mock to Mach 1!”

We look forward to seeing everyone in Waco for our Golden Jubilee! The Placement Committee

Marietta Em de la Rosa Placement Committee Chair Associate Director UTSA Housing & Residence Life

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

Awards Committee With the annual conference quickly approaching in February, NOW is the time to nominate a colleague for a SWACUHO award! You can go online now to: https://swacuho.site-ym.com/?page=recognition to fill out any of the six award applications. While more specific information about the annual awards will be sent through the SWACUHO nation email, the deadline for awards is typically mid-January. Below are testimonials from those who nominated people who ended up winning awards at the 2015 SWACUHO conference. Bob Cooke Distinguished Service Award

“Thanks to you and the rest of the SWACUHO Awards Committee for all your hard work organizing the awards process! I felt very grateful and flattered that my supervisor, LaVonya, would take the time and effort to nominate me for the award in the first place. Being selected for the Bob Huss Outstanding Graduate Student Award felt very fulfilling because it showed that my colleagues respect and are appreciative of the work that I do in my role as a graduate assistant.” Nancy Murphy-Chadwick New Professional Award Nominator: J.C. Stoner – University of Texas-Arlington

Nominator: Dawn Davis – University of Texas at Austin (winner: Jennifer Walker) “I wasn’t at the event this year but from what I heard, everyone at the dinner really enjoyed watching her be surprised by this. Putting together these awards takes a team effort. Many people wrote recommendation letters, and so knowing we all helped her get this award was very fun for our [staff].” Bob Huss Outstanding Graduate Student Award Nominator: LaVonya Bennett – Oklahoma University “I did not tell Lena that I nominated her, but when she won, I did inform her. I know that Lena does not like surprises in front of large crowds so I tried to be courteous of her in that regard. It felt wonderful to watch my nominee and employee to receive recognition for her hard work. I could not think of anyone more deserving and I was elated to share that moment with her. I love when we get to celebrate people doing great work. Lena is a wonderful person doing outstanding work!”

Winner: Lena Tenney – Oklahoma University

“Margaux did not know she was nominated, which made it interesting asking for an updated copy of her resume without giving too many details about why I needed it. She was completely surprised, which I believe made it even more special for her to receive the award. Hearing how grateful she was to even be nominated was very rewarding, and knowing that she had done some very special work worthy of recognition was very special. Overall, I think the awards are a great way to recognize the contributions by new professionals in our region, and hopefully it inspires others to hear small initiatives for others to strive for to raise the bar of what it means to be a new professional of distinction in our region.” Winner: Margaux Ring – University of Texas-Arlington “I was completely surprised to receive the award, since I was unaware that he had nominated me. To me, it felt really great to be recognized for any contribution I could make to my department. As a new professional, I definitely question if I am doing things well enough and I am always looking to improve and learn. When the description of my nomination was being read, it

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was great to be recognized for some of the ideas I contributed and know that I was helping to make a difference. Winning the award felt amazing, because I felt like I was bringing something to the institution that gave me my first professional position out of graduate school.” Winner: Amanda Knutson – Texas Tech University “The Nancy Murphy-Chadwick New Professional of Distinction award is close to my heart because I first met Nancy Murphy-Chadwick at STARS College in 2009. In 2011 I attended my first SWACUHO Conference and was fascinated to hear about this particular award and more of the impact made from Nancy MurphyChadwick. This award is a reminder to me and motivation to continue doing the work I do and hopes of making half the impact that Nancy Murphy-Chadwick has made for all in the profession. I did not officially find out that I was nominated for the award until it was announced that I won. I was overwhelmed with excitement and the kind words shared from coworkers and supervisors was nice to hear.”

Besides the Bob Cooke Distinguished Service Award, Bob Huss Outstanding Graduate Student Award, and Nancy Murphy-Chadwick New Professional of Distinction Award, there are three other awards. Those are the Individual Diversity Award, the Institutional Diversity Award, and the Frank Cloud Award of Excellence. The Frank Cloud Award is worth knowing more about! It requires a school to give a 15 - 20 minute presentation at the annual conference on a specific area of expertise and innovation. This year's topic is Social Media in Housing. Like the other awards, proceed to the website to fill out the form so we know to plan for your presentation! As you’ve seen from the testimonials, YOU can make a difference for someone just by nominating them! They just might win! With the variety of awards and ways to recognize your colleagues, make it your goal to submit a nomination by winter break. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Recognition and Awards chair, John Wright, at jwright@astate.edu.

Beth Eppinger Director of Housing and Residential Life University of Arkansas Fort Smith

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

Ask Me if I’m OK Burnout in housing and residence life (HRL) professionals is a topic that is worth its own dissertation (which I am currently working on), but until a comprehensive study is completed, an aspect of this problem to consider is determining the major organizational antecedents that accompany burnout. For many HRL professionals who live on campus, living where you work is a unique challenge to those who struggle with the work-life equation, and one outcome of an imbalance in this equation is burnout. The term has been used casually to describe a very serious and real threat to the work of student affairs professionals. When your ability to care gets diminished to the point of no return, everyone - students, RAs, colleagues, the department - suffers. Over 30 years of research has been spent analyzing and defining burnout. In terms of defining the construct, one can summarize burnout based on three dimensions – emotional exhaustion, depersonalization of others, and a feeling of reduced personal accomplishment. In terms of expanding the theoretical framework beyond these dimensions, or strictly looking at personality or organizational factors as causes, Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter have identified six major organizational antecedents that look at the person within the context in their book, The Truth about Burnout. This article will examine the six areas they discussed by briefly describing them and applying them, anecdotally, in the context of the work of a HRL professional. Then, some preliminary theories will be offered based on the examination to determine where change needs to occur. (Note: description of these terms were referenced from Job Burnout by Christina Maslach, Michael P. Leiter, and Wilmar B. Schaufeli, Annual Review of Psychology, 2001. 397-422) (Maslach, Leiter, & Schaufeli, 2001). Workload - A mismatch in workload is generally found as excessive overload, through the simple formula that too many demands exhaust an individual’s energy to the extent that recovery becomes impossible. This can be seen in a live-on/live-in professional’s dynamic schedule which includes traditional office hour work as well as evening and weekend work, which includes, but is not limited to: on-call duty rotation, emergency/crisis response,

So much on my mind that I can’t meeting with undergraduate staff (RAs and RHA), meetings with student organization, and attendance at university events. Control - Mismatches in control most often indicate that individuals have insufficient control over the resources needed to do their work or have insufficient authority to pursue the work in what they believe is the most effective manner. Residence Hall Directors, are usually classified as entry level positions within a housing and residence life department. They have a great deal of input into how they supervise staff and create community in their area; however, it is common for these individuals to experience frustration on a lack of control in other factors that are controlled by those who hold assistant or associate director positions. Other factors may include: hiring/firing/placement of undergraduate staff, programming requirements/model, use of budget, higher level judicial outcomes, opening/closing hall procedures. To some extent, if they ask, Residence Hall Directors can look for greater involvement in these processes; however, due to their positions, there is an inherent limit that can only be overcome by acquiring a higher level position. Reward - A third type of mismatch involves a lack of appropriate rewards for the work people do. Sometimes these may be insufficient financial rewards, as when people are not receiving the salary or benefits commensurate with their achievements. Even more important at times is the lack of social rewards, as when one’s hard work is ignored and not appreciated by others. Residence life departments typically do a good job of acknowledging the work of its paraprofessional and professional staff members; however, there is a bell curve of social recognition in which too much praise, or rather praise for all tasks equally can have negative or diminishing effects. Either all acts are treated equally and thus a specific project which took weeks to complete may be treated with the same praise as handing in a weekly report will demotivate an employee to go above and beyond, or over time, due to the over saturation of praise, recognition will seem disingenuous to an employee thus diminishing the supervisee-supervisor dynamic.

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recline -Black Star, “Respiration,” Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star (1998) Community - The fourth mismatch occurs when people lose a sense of positive connection with others in the workplace. While undergraduate staff development largely falls on a Residence Hall Director, the task of professional staff team development goes largely unassigned, left to the devices of the professionals themselves to take initiative in fostering it. To assume such a thing will happen on its own, or to avoid actively engaging in the process, director level professionals run a risk of dissention and depersonalization within their team. Fairness - Unfairness can occur when there is inequity of workload or pay, when there is cheating, or when evaluations and promotions are handled inappropriately. If procedures for grievance or dispute resolution do not allow for both parties to have a voice, then those will be judged as unfair. Fairness is perhaps the most difficult dimension to deconstruct within the context of student affairs. One aspect that this article will address is the idea of fair compensation. This argument has been extended to traditional teaching, as teachers are widely acknowledged to be underpaid for the work they do. It is difficult to negotiate larger contracts within the field unless there is a change in title. Fair pay is largely determined by job responsibilities and specific organizations who may or may not have the resources to offer a competitive salary. This seems to largely result from the perception of costs of the jobs over time outweighing income, or outplaying one’s contract due to the accumulated service over time. Values - People can also be caught between conflicting values of the organization, as when there is a discrepancy between the lofty mission statement and actual practice, or when the values are in conflict (e.g. high quality service and cost containment do not always co-exist).

Conclusion Emerging trends in student affairs are frequently discussed, researched, and presented on for the betterment of students on college campuses around the country; however, this article suggests that greater attention needs to be paid to those who are charged with taking care of these students. “Here we are in a field of residence hall managers, student activities coordinators, Greek life directors and other assorted student affairs specialists, all trained extensively on exactly what to do should a student display suicidal ideations, and yet we are ill-equipped to talk about our own fragile place in this college landscape” (Schneck, 2013). This is not to say that suicidal ideations are rampant in this field, but associative disorders – depression, compassion fatigue, and, as this article points to, burnout, are very real and worth the attention of everyone in the field.

References Maslach, C., Leiter, M. P., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2001). Job Burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 397-422. Schneck, K. (2013, November 12). Retrieved from huffingtonpost.com: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kenschneck-phd/student-affairs-administrators_b_4236003.html

Matthieu Hertilus Hall Director University of Michigan

This mismatch of values can place an undue amount of pressure on a professional to accomplish the goals of a department or division with inadequate resources. This has more to do with poor planning or execution of organizational change, a topic with a library of research that is worth exploring.

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

Blazing New Trails: SWACURH 2015 at

Texas A&M University had the opportunity to host the 35th SWACURH Conference this year! Our campus was alive with over 550 happy duckies from around the region from October 22–25, 2015. We were absolutely thrilled to be able to serve the students of our region in this capacity. Our Conference team had quite an experience through it all, and we’re very proud of everything they accomplished! Delegations began arriving to College Station, Texas on the afternoon of Thursday, October 22nd. We kicked off the event with our Opening Ceremonies, including welcome addresses from our Associate Director of Residence Education, Christine Thoorsell, and our new

Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Daniel Pugh; and a thrilling video introduction from our Conference CoDirectors, John Nalley and Michael Buse. The weekend was filled with almost 70 programs for attendees to choose from, 22 round table sessions, and a slew of entertainment, ranging from game nights to karaoke to adventures at Grand Station (bowling and laser tag, y’all!), to getting to see our Aggie Wranglers perform. We even had a magician, TAMU alum Ben Jackson, as our keynote speaker! SWACURH 2015 had two different philanthropy projects affiliated with SWACURH 2015. Delegations were able to participate in pre-conference philanthropy at their

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Texas A&M home institutions by hosting Penny Wars, in which the money raised was donated to the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (http://urbandebate.org/). SWACURH raised $1,647.75! For our on-site philanthropy, students created 246 hand-tied fleece blankets to donate to Project Linus, an organization that collects and distributes blankets to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere a child is in need. Often the recipients are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need of new blankets. You can learn more about Project Linus at: www.projectlinus.org. While there are always some hiccups with any conference, the Conference Team – students and advisors alike – had a great time hosting SWACURH 2015. The lead Conference Advisor, Gennie Lynn, reported “it was the smoothest conference I’ve ever hosted” and she has hosted a few in her years. It was a humbling experience in the amount of planning and execution that goes into conference planning, and we were honored to have y’all on our campus! Check out the backfeed on Twitter using #SWACURH2015, follow us using @SWACURH2015 to see highlights, or visit our website: http://swacurh2015. wix.com/blazing-new-trails! If you’re interested in bidding to host SWACURH 2016, the region will be accepting bids at No Frills 2016, hosted by OU!

work and dedication which allowed SWACURH 2015 to be as successful as it was: • Sara Hazel Harrison, Conference Co-Advisor • Justin “Jibby” Varghese, Conference Co-Advisor • Katherine Johnson, Registration and Facilities Advisor • Kelly Gilton, Banquet and Programming Advisor • Brandon Carlson, Safety & Security and Transportation Advisor • Aaron Harbaugh, Housing and Sponsorship Advisor • Mitchell Holston, Mass Gatherings and Philanthropy Advisor • Carter Burks, Technology Advisor • Lydell Perry, Entertainment and Spirit & Awards Advisor • Audrey Winking, Dining and Hospitality Advisor • De’Ronnius Young, Public Relations and Volunteer Advisor • Lisa Pierce, Spirit & Awards and Facilities Advisor • Dan Parrish, Van Driver Extraordinaire Without the passion and energy given by these professionals, the lack of sleep throughout the conference and the overall awesomeness that makes these folks wonderful, the student conference staff would not have been able to keep up their motivation and drive to produce such a successful conference.

Ducky Love!

Gennie Lynn would also like to give a very special shout out to the following staff members for all of their hard

Sara Hazel Harrison, M.Ed. Coordinator for Academic Support Initiatives, Texas A&M University SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

How to get the most out of your Confer We’re in the thick of conference season, and it’s not about to slow down for SWACUHO! We’re excited about our upcoming Goldin Jubilee hosted by Baylor University in Waco, Texas from February 21-24, 2016, and we want to make sure y’all get the most out of every conference experience you have! Some of you may have been to hundreds of conferences at this point in your lives; others may have only been to a handful. Perhaps you’ve never been to a conference, and you’re reading this newsletter because someone in your department is involved in the region, shared it with you, and is trying to convince you to attend this upcoming SWACUHO! Whatever the case may be, there are endless learning opportunities at conferences, inside and outside of the sessions you attend, whether you’re the delegate or you’re advising a group of students to a regional or national conference. Here are some tips for getting the absolute most out of your conference experience: Pre-Conference Prep

can help guide some of your decisions throughout the conference. (Don’t be afraid to allot for some random fun here and there, too! You never know who you’ll meet or what you might be able to do!) Review the conference schedule (if available) ahead of time. This way you can be proactive in deciding which sessions you’re interested in attending. If you’re with more people from your institution, try to split up sessions you attend, then bring back the information you learned to share with each other. Conference Time Meet people! When you exchange business cards, write on them – when you received it, who that person is, and why you have it. This way, you’ll remember who you want to follow up with about what when that time comes. If you see a great presentation and want more information from the presenter, don’t be afraid to write a note on the back of your business card and leave it with them on your way out the door if there isn’t time to connect between sessions.

Discuss with supervisor/mentor what you may be charged with for attending the conference. Ask if there are any specific things/experiences you should be looking for in order to bring back information to your campus. Ideas from this perspective can help shape what you choose to attend.

Reflect throughout the conference. What have you learned that really speaks to you? How can your thoughts be implemented on your campus? Be thinking about two things you can take back to your campus and implement within two weeks.

Reflect on what you hope to gain from attendance. The amount of things happening during the course of a conference can be overwhelming, so if you go into it knowing what you hope to gain, that knowledge

Make the most of your time, no matter what. Sometimes, you’ll encounter a programming time slot that doesn’t have a session that speaks to you. What you do with that time is ultimately up to you. You can find one that’s close to something you’re interested in

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rence Experience and go in with questions that will relate to what you’re hoping to learn. You can take the time to recharge, you can strike up a conversation with someone you haven’t yet met and learn from them, or any slew of other things. If you’re advising a delegation, attend sessions on an advisors track. If there’s not an advisors track, connect with other advisors. Whatever you decide, I encourage you make a choice with the most positive impact. Take time to recharge how you need to recharge. If you need to take a breather back at your hotel room in between sessions, do that. If you need a quick shower before banquets or social or evening events, do that. You know you best, so do what you need to be able to continue living the conference dream! Be cognizant of social media use. Tweeting can be great for sharing lessons learned, words of wisdom, and contributing to back feeds. I LOVE Tweeting through conferences! However, do remember how widespread what we share can become. If you’re doing to share something rude or passive aggressive about an experience or presenter, or if you’re going to take to the Yik Yaks for all things Yik Yak, think twice before posting. Think about how you would respond if you saw a student post what you’re thinking about posting. Remember to set positive examples and avoid hypocritical tendencies.

Living Learning Programs Conference in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida (incredible conference, y’all – I highly recommend it), and I was determined to enjoy every bit of seafood I could. Some of the deliciousness I encountered included: swordfish, scallops with black truffles in risotto, blue crab ravioli, stone crab, and conch chowder – all reasonably priced and incredibly fresh! Post-Conference Debrief with your supervisor/mentor. Share what you learned and what you want to do now. Hopefully, this person can help you bring light to some of your ideas! Follow up with people you met. Thank them for taking the time to talk to you. Request additional information about a topic you discussed. Share additional information if you were asked. Build your network! Take action! What two things can you take back and implement within two weeks? What are some of your longer term goals? What resources do you need to assist with your goals to make them become reality? Make things happen.

The opportunities are endless. Happy conferencing!

Enjoy local food and attractions. This can be done without breaking the bank or your per diem! This is also a great way to give back to the local economy while you’re on conference. I was recently at the ACUHO-I

Sara Hazel Harrison, M.Ed. Coordinator for Academic Support Initiatives, Texas A&M University

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

RA Conference Wrap Up Just over a month has passed since 330 delegates from our region came together at the University of Texas at Arlington for the SWACUHO RA Conference. With representation of 34 institutions, it was a weekend filled learning, development, and of course… fun! Hopefully by now the RAs who attended have brought back new ideas, different perspectives, and an increased passion for working with residential populations at our institutions. Technológico de Monterrey won Best Video Roll Call (watch the video) while Texas State University won Best Live-Action Roll Call. The University of Arkansas won Best Overall Banner. Of nearly 40 programs presented, the following three were recognized as a Top Three RA Conference Program: • More Than a Million, presented by Faustino Limon, Resident Advisor, and April Gonzalez, Head Resident Advisor at Texas A&M University – Kingsville • Submersion Into Introversion, presented by Alex Rouse, Senior RA at the University of North Texas •

A Lesson in Diversity, presented by Austin Nelson, Bryan Escalon, Jamie Smith, and Samantha Zambrano, Resident Advisors at Sam Houston State University.

The RA Conference serves a vital role for student staff in our region. I highly encourage every institution to consider submitting a bid to host future RA Conferences. It was also a great experience for the Host Committee this year. Some fast facts to help you gauge the need for future RA Conferences, here is what early assessment reports say: • 94% of RAs strongly agreed or agreed that as a result of attending RA Conference, they will be a better leader on their RA staff. • 92% of RAs strongly agreed or agreed that as a result of attending RA Conference, they will be a better resource to their community. • 98% of RAs strongly agreed or agreed that the RA Conference was a meaningful use of their time. How can you deny numbers like that?! If you are interested in submitting an RA Conference bid, please contact SWACUHO Time and Place Chair, David Cooper from Texas Christian University, for more information about time-line and process. If you have specific questions about actually hosting, I am happy to talk to you and send you any information that would be helpful about the time and resources necessary to host the RA Conference.

J.C. Stoner University of Texas at Arlington

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Top: Delegates attending a panel presentation on Careers in Student Affairs. Above left: Delegates from Camden Miramar at TAMUCC putting the finishing touches on their banner. Middle right: New friendships formed from multiple institutions. Bottom right: Opening dinner and roll call.

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

Jester United: Reflections on a Success

Jester Center at The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest residential communities in the country, comprised of two high-rise towers which house over 3,200 students in total. With a population this size, an engaging community development plan is necessary. In the past, each Jester tower has created its own identity, with mixed overall success. This year, however, residence life staff were driven to pursue priorities of student cohesion, pride, and connection to bring the community together. Background of Jester Center Jester Center is named after Governor Beauford H. Jester who served Texas from 1947-1949. Beauford Jester was also a UT Austin graduate. Originally built in

1969, the community has gone through several changes from desegregating genders to adding wings with suite-style bathrooms. The community is also currently undergoing a complete renovations project. Graduate Assistant Incorporation The residents of Jester are overseen by 64 Resident Assistants separated into 5 staffs, each supervised by a full-time masters level Hall Coordinator. In an effort to build cohesion across staffs and organize community development centrally, a Graduate Assistant was hired in summer 2015. More than anyone else in Jester, the GA is tasked with building relationships with students, student leaders, and staff across the entire Jester Center, creating greater unity. Since the

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sful Integration of Two Towers GA joined our community, a variety of large-scale programs have become a success, including move-in weekend, a welcome week program series, and themed community-building initiatives. One RA noted: “the GA has smoothed out rough patches during the first few weeks that normally could not be resolved as easily.” Looking forward, additional GAs will be hired to continue promoting a unified Jester Center. Social Media The use of social media has transformed the engagement level of the community. Previous years’ creation of social media outlets was largely based on the discretion of individual RAs or hall councils. Conversely, this year, there is one unified Facebook group for Jester East and West, with over 1,100 members and counting. This highly visible Facebook group has facilitated study groups, program advertising, and customer service – residents post in the group on a daily basis. Furthermore, the Humans of Jester project on the group highlights one Jester resident in-depth weekly. All in all, the group has accelerated communitybuilding on a macro- and micro-scale. Identity, Traditions, and Student Development With the goal of creating a unified community in mind, the staff was encouraged to think both about how they would build individual relationships and contribute efforts towards large-scale community-building. First, the separate mascots of the phoenix and the dragon, for East and West tower respectively, were combined to form a “dragonix.” This then inspired a new Jester Center logo which will be placed on the community-wide t-shirts to be given out later in the year. Second, #ThemedThursdays is a weekly tradition to showcase unification of the towers. The beauty

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

of #ThemedThursdays is that it is a reoccurring and consistent tradition, providing a space for residents to engage as little or as much as they prefer. So far, the #ThemedThursdays have celebrated diversity, wellness, and civic responsibility. For example, an active #ThemedThursdays program was Jesta’ Fiesta. Over 350 Jester Center residents participated in this cultural celebration which featured Mexican traditions and emphasized cultural awareness of Jester Center residents. #ThemedThursdays also provided a public forum for residents to adhere to and abide by the University core values in a residential setting. In addition, staff have used events in the larger Austin community to connect residents of Jester Center with the city they call home. Third, the GA worked with the five Faculty Mentors in Jester Center to put on a variety of programs and initiatives to educate students, including an internship dinner. The GA also supervises undergraduate interns, who created handouts with study tips for students during midterms. Assessment In late October, a survey was created and disseminated to all Jester Center residents to gauge pride and connection levels. It collects both quantitative and qualitative data about the student experience. The results of the survey, as well as other informal assessment, will be used to refine community-building strategies for the future.

Justin Samuel and Sam Siner Hall Coordinators, Jester Center The University of Texas at Austin

Global Engagement: Fostering Intercul

In fall of 2013, Residence Life introduced a new special interest housing option for students interested in broadening their cultural horizons and making friends from across the globe. Northpark Quads Building Two is home to the Global Engagement Living-Learning Community (LLC) in which domestic and international students are paired together to promote sharing of one anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultures and traditions. This program is designed to create a friendly, inclusive environment that fosters new friendships

while enhancing cultural awareness, and allowing new international students to adjust more quickly to American life. Each quad consists of four roommates; two students on each side separated by a common living area. Of the two roommates on each side there is a domestic and international student, making two domestic and two international students in each quad. This gives an equal balance of interest and learning without overwhelming a student with the pressure of socializing.

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ltural Friendships New international students are manually placed within the LLC once they make contact with Residence Life and complete the housing process. We do this to give them a better opportunity to adjust not only to a new school, but a new country. For domestic students to join Global Engagement (GE), they must select the special interest housing on their housing application. Only those students who choose GE on the application will be able to view the available spaces on the portal when selecting a room. This process is designed to alleviate the surprise of having an international student as a roommate as not all students are open to the idea. However, it gives students who are majoring in any international related field the ability to gain personal experience they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see in the classroom environment. Throughout the year, the LLC hosts several programs to educate GE residents on cultural awareness, enhance understanding, and enrich lifelong bonds. Programs include a Kickoff BBQ at the beginning of the year to welcome all participating residents and a first opportunity to see the many different cultures under one roof. Other programs consist of tailgating at home football games, international potluck, game night, themed events, myth busters, and other various programs that allow residents to interact and get to know one another. These programs are also opened to other on-campus residents who are interested in

learning about the program and thinking about living in the special interest housing. One program thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opened to university faculty, staff and the community to give them the opportunity to get involved as well is the Thanksgiving Host Program. During the week of Thanksgiving the university is closed. The majority of domestic students go home over the break; international students do not get the luxury to do the same. With them in mind, the Thanksgiving Host Program was created in which families can volunteer to open their homes and invite international students to attend a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Not only do international students learn about one of the major American holidays, hosts enjoy the chance to interact and learn of another culture. Although it is asked at minimum to host a student for Thanksgiving dinner only, many families open their homes to students for the entire week campus is closed. This program has led to many friendships that have carried throughout the year and beyond. Currently, Global Engagement is working on placing flags throughout the building to represent the countries students are from. Ten flags have already been purchased and the end goal is to have a flag representing all countries of students living in the LLC. GE is an instrumental experience that can permit students to view the world through a broader lens as a global community.

Melissa Turner International Liaison/Personnel Coordinator Arkansas State University

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

Professional FOMO in a Student Affairs of putting the work into where I was and creating an experience of my own, I was shaping my experiences around the experiences of others and stamping it as my own.

As a graduate student about to enter a job search in Student Affairs, I am constantly fighting FOMO, otherwise known as the ‘fear of missing out.’ I am continually comparing myself to other professionals and trying to find more interesting items to supplement my resume. I worked in residence life during my first year in graduate school and found it to be rewarding and engaging, but my grad program constantly emphasizes the need to branch out and get additional experiences. My program gives the chance to work in five different student affairs assistantships or internships. Additionally, we are encouraged to start research with our professors, join extra committees, and go to multiple regional and national conferences to present. Of course, graduate school is the time to learn and experience all you can, but at some point I found myself afraid to say no. This wasn’t just about my time management, or my ability to take “me time.” I was legitimately afraid to miss out on any experience because I could see what my ‘competition’ was doing to outgrow me. Instead

In a 2014 Forbes article, Do You Have FOMO: Fear of Missing Out?, Kristie Hedges points out that this concerning phenomenon is running rampant throughout the generations that are entering the workforce. The fear of missing out that a lot of people don’t even realize they identify with, comes as a “the grass is always greener on the other side” feeling. With the rise of technology, and especially social media, people are sharing every exciting part of their lives. A lot of people fall into the trap of thinking they should be included in everything that is happening, rather than accepting the idea that we may not have the time or energy to dedicate. A 2014 Entrepreneur article called FOMO an epidemic that is taking over the millennial generation. I am a millennial, and I, along with all my counterparts, am about to make my way into the Student Affairs professional role. With most of our generation and those below us suffering from this fear of missing out, we are feeling left out and unnecessary when decisions are made in our department without our input. Millennials are hardworking and driven, and have a constant desire to be unique, so much so that we are consistently afraid that someone else is always doing better than us. In an article written for The Atlantic titled The Try Hard Generation, Fareed Zakaria points out that millennials are simply assuming the role that society has given them. Every time we check Facebook, twitter, snap chat, or any other social media, we are seeing and reading about experiences others have had that we did not and

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s World that shapes the way we believe we should live our lives. This, over time, can cause a person with a constant fear of missing out, to question if they are doing things correctly because this generation is constantly being persuaded that there is a better way to do something or get somewhere. I am constantly told there is not a traditional path into student affairs but I always have some fear that I am not doing ‘it’ right. That fear is not something only I suffer from or the phenomenon would not exist. However, I don’t believe that students and professionals fully understand the negative affects of this phenomenon and how the Student Affairs environment can feed into it. For example, the large placement exchanges that exist within our profession encourage multiple interviews, experiences, and constant competition. The profession also emphasizes the need to move around to different positions and universities in order to gain the proper amount of experience. Even the ever-present idea of a graduate school cohort can lend itself to FOMO. These pieces of Student Affairs are not bad; it’s the way they are perceived and taught to those who can easily be victims. FOMO creates an environment that disconnects a person from what their real goals are and what makes them successful and ultimately happy with the decisions that they make every day.

path to fit others. I refer to mentors outside the field, and especially outside my graduate program to make sure I am making my decisions based on my own needs. This started from a conscious effort to be more intentional in my social media interactions and postings and will continue to grow throughout my career so that I am conscious of my own needs every time I think about a new opportunity. The question becomes, how can we make student affairs professionals and graduate students realize that their individual path is useful and meaningful, without comparing them to others? We in the student affairs profession need to constantly be checking to make sure we are establishing our own identity before we can help our students to establish their own. Resources Hedges, K. (2014). Do you have FOMO?: Fear of missing out?. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-inprogress/2014/03/27/do-you-have-fomofear-of-missing-out/ Taylor, K. (2014). The FOMO epidemic and why it matters to millennial hungry businesses. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from http:// www.entrepreneur.com/article/237566Zakaria, F. (2015). The try-hard generation. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www. theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/06/in-defense-of-a-tryhard-generation/394535/

As a result of analyzing my own FOMO I am continuously checking myself to make sure I am not changing my

Alyssa Raymond Texas A & M University

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

Oklahoma State University Opens New “Having lived in other places on campus, it is safe to say that living at the Commons combines all of the modern comforts with traditional living styles” John Dexter, sophomore, Claremore, West Commons

Oklahoma State University’s Housing and Residential Life held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for the university’s latest residential life facility following the OSU/A&M Board of Regents regularly scheduled meeting on October 23, 2015. OSU President Burns Hargis and members of the OSU/A&M Board joined the celebration. The building process was completed in conjunction with KSQ architects and Flinto Construction.

The University Commons opened its doors to more than 900 students in August. The $65 million, stateof-the-art housing facility was designed as a mix of traditional and suite-style living areas. The 290,000 square foot, three-building community is built around a quad for outdoor activities and student interaction. Dr. Leon McClinton, Director of OSU Housing and Residential Life, said, “We are excited to have a new

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Residence Halls

Tanya Arflin Massey Assistant Director, Programs and Development Department of Housing and Residential Life Oklahoma State University

Each floor is comprised of groups of six to eight rooms and a community bathroom. Multiple lounges and study rooms are also located on each floor. Each building is equipped with a kitchen and community laundry facility. living style available to students that meshes modern and traditional style housing for an optimized student living experience. Students will have access to the best of both worlds with suite-style amenities in a traditional setting.” “Having lived in other places on campus, it is safe to say that living at the Commons combines all of the modern comforts with traditional living styles” - John Dexter, sophomore, Claremore, West Commons.

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

“As a first year Resident Advisor, it is a privilege to live in the newly built University Commons. I have enjoyed being a resource to new students by helping them transition and have the best year here at OSU. It has been a great opportunity to take part in the firsthand experience of sharing proud OSU traditions while helping them create new ones of their own. I would like to think that one day I can look back and see that I made a positive impact on the students who lived in the University Commons.” - Lee Twyman, sophomore, Japan, Resident Advisor, South Common.

A&M Welcomes New Staff New Full-Time Staff Andrea Johannes Associate Director Business Office Brandon Carlson Coordinator of Residence Life Residence Education Brandy Brown Customer Service Associate Housing Assignments Office Brent Cockrell Coordinator of Residence Life Residence Education Karen Durant Office Associate South Area Office Catherine Finnegan Tour Guide Coordinator Conference Services Office Jessica Lennerton Business Coordinator III Business Office Kimberly Tijerina Customer Service Associate Housing Assignments Office Miriam Lee Business Analyst (Contractor) Central Administrative Office

New Community Directors (full-time) Carlos Pinkerton Hobby/Neeley Community Director Residence Education Lisa Pierce Resident Manager White Creek Apartments Lydell Perry Moses Community Director Residence Education Travis Roberts Walton/Legett Community Director Residence Education

New Graduate Students

Promotions

Desiree Cano Graduate Assistant Events Coordinator Facilities & Operations

Aaron Harbaugh Resident Manager White Creek Apartments

Hailey Macke Haas Graduate Hall Director Residence Education Jacob Wildman Mosher Graduate Hall Director Residence Education Jamin Goecker Graduate Assistant Sustainability Central Office Libby Henning Clements Graduate Hall Director Residence Education Madison Valentine Rudder Graduate Hall Director Residence Education

Angela Calise Lechner/McFadden Community Director Residence Education Eralia Barrientos Office Associate Housing Office Heidi Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal Business Administrator II Business Office Josh Morris Student Development Specialist III Residence Education Justin Varghese Coordinator, Conference & Guest Services Conference Services Office Kate Kiernat Assistant Director University Apartments Sara Harrison Program Coordinator North Area Office

Sarah Buchanan Senior Office Associate Facilities & Operations Virginia Sauls Office Associate White Creek Apartments

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Brandy Brown

Angela Calisex

Desiree Cano

Brent Cockrell

Karen Durant

Catherine Finnegan

Jamin Goecker

Sara Harrison

Jessica Lennerton

Lisa Pierce

Carlos Pinkerton

Travis Roberts

Virginia Sauls

Kimberly Tijerina

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

H-Town Happenings!

We welcome to our team th

Nicole Boucher Residence Life Coordinator, Cougar Village II-Student Housing and Residential Life I worked as a Residence Hall Director for an upperclassmen/apartment style residence hall at Southern Connecticut State University. I was also a Graduate Intern for the Office of Student Conduct and Civic Responsibility and a RA/Summer RA in upperclassmen halls for over three years at Southern Connecticut State University. I was attracted to the University of Houston because of the diverse student population, the work ethics of students and staff, and of course the city of Houston (much warmer than Connecticut!) The thing I enjoy most about my position is seeing my RA’s and residential students enjoy their residential and university experience. Nothing is more rewarding than watching your students succeed inside and outside of the classroom.

Jose Gonzalez I am one of two Graduate Assistants in the SHRL Leadership & Learning office. I was born and raised in México and then my family moved to good ol’ rural Southeast Missouri when I was thirteen. I graduated from Missouri State University in Springfield, MO and moved down to Houston in 2010 to teach high school Spanish in Pearland, TX. I was attracted to University of Houston by the Higher Education Administration & Supervision masters program and my current position in the Department of Student Housing and Residential Life. I enjoy working with campus partners to support student growth, development, and success. I also greatly enjoy the live-in opportunity and engage in campus life.

Southwest Association of College & University Housing Officers

he following new additions this Fall: Jeanette Miller, Administrative Assistant I’ve spent the last ten months traveling the west coast and southern US, doing social justice advocacy work. I’m originally from Nebraska, having lived also in Oregon and California. My most recent work involved securing a half-million dollar grant to establish the first program in Hinds County, Jackson, MS for system-involved youth focused on decreasing recidivism and building emotional intelligence and based in restorative justice and democratic education practices. I have a professional background in residence life and high-level administrative support, high-profile project and program management at several universities, including: Western Oregon University, Portland State University, Stanford University and Santa Clara University. I’m passionate about social justice advocacy work around issues related to education, race, gender, and body identity. I was drawn to the University of Houston through a desire to remain in the southern US while working in a professional environment at a tier one institution. Returning to work in residence life, seemed like coming home. I’ve just started work and I’m sure there will be many things I come to enjoy about working at UH, at the moment, I am most enjoying meeting such a diverse and friendly group of people.

Terence J. Turner Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services Student Housing & Residential Life | Residence Life Coordinator, Cougar Place University of Houston

SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

Oklahoma State University Welcomes The Oklahoma State University Division of Student Affairs is proud to announce the hiring of Dr. Leon McClinton, Jr. as the new director of Housing and Residential Life. McClinton comes to Stillwater via Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA where he served as director of Residence Education. He brings more than 20 years of residential life experience to OSU having previously worked at Clemson University, Eastern Kentucky University, and Virginia Tech. In addition to his residential life experience, McClinton is diversely educated receiving three degrees from Clemson University, including a Bachelor of Science degree in textile management, a Master of Human Resource Development and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational leadership. McClinton has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the National Society of Leadership and Success. He has also served as a former president of the SEAHO region.

The Housing Coordinator is a full time, masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s level staff member who manages a building or program and supervises two Graduate Assistant Residence Directors. This year we have three new additions to the Housing Coordinator team: Patrick Joseph, Jr. is joining the staff as a Housing Coordinator in Bennett Hall. Patrick is originally from Miami, FL. He attended school at the University of Florida, where he graduated with a dual degree in Criminology and Family, Youth, & Community Sciences. After completing his degree at UF he decided to move to Philadelphia, PA to complete his masters degree in Counseling and Mental Health Services at the University of Pennsylvania. Tootie Brooks joins the staff as the Leadership Development Coordinator. Tootie is from Alabama and earned her masters of liberal arts in Leadership and Ethics from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s currently working on her Ph.D. in Leadership through a distance education program from Piedmont International University in Winston-Salem, NC. Mary Cahill joins us after serving as full-time staff for the last two years at Winthrop University in SC. She now serves in the role of Housing Coordinator for the Villages. Mary is originally from New England and completed her graduate work in Higher Education Administration at the University of Alabama.

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New Staff We are also excited add 6 new Graduate Assistant Residence Directors to our Oklahoma State University Family. • Logan Shuping, Drummond Hall Residence Director • David Petrie, Patchin Jones Residence Director

OSU Housing and Residential Life supports the success of over 7,000 residents in thirty-four residences halls and six family and graduate student housing neighborhoods. For more information visit about Residential Life, please visit reslife.okstate.edu.

• Oliva Stankey, Academic and Wellness Initiatives Residence Director • Luke Hams, Zink Allen Residence Director • Theresa Riles, North University Commons Residence Director • Nick Fink, Leadership Development Residence Director

Tanya Arflin Massey Assistant Director, Programs and Development Department of Housing and Residential Life Oklahoma State University

Sam Houston State University welcomes Residence Hall Director Sam Houston State University welcomes Residence Hall Director Younna Smith. Younna attended the University of Mississippi where she received a B.A. in Sociology. She received a M.S. in Education with a concentration in Higher Education at California State University, Fullerton. Younna discovered her passion for working with students as an undergraduate, which led her to expand her studies in student development. She is passionate about social justice, diversity and inclusion, access, and promoting student development and community. Younna Smith SWACUHO News | Winter 2015

Southwest Association of College & University Housing Officers