Residence Life Conference 2022

Res Life Conference History & Host

The first Residence Life Conference was in May 2021 for Melinda Farmer’s region. In May of 2022, it expanded to the entire Chachere Region. We are excited that as of September 2022, our third conference is open to everyone!

The purpose of the Residence Life Conference is to provide an open forum where we can share our expertise with one another, sharpen our skills, and improve our systems to create a strong sense of community and provide the best resident experience possible.

Jomo McCormack

Res Life Conference Host

Jomo McCormack joined the CCC in 2016 as a Resident Manager. Jomo currently serves as the Area Residence Life Manager for the Canadian Portfolio. Jomo works with our team of Residence Life Coordinators (Resident Directors) and Community Assistants, to ensure the creation, development and execution of a strong Residence Life & Student Engagement program at our CCC communities that Puts Students First.

Jomo's favorite Core Value is to Be Passionate, strongly believing that what the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve.

PULSE guest speakers

Glenn Herring

Glenn L. Herring is the General Manager at the Residential Learning Community and the University Village at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas . Glenn started his journey with American Campus Communities as a General Manager in January 2022. Over the years, Glenn has been an Assistant Director, Area Coordinator, a Resident Director, and a Resident Assistant at various universities in the Mid West prior to joing American Campus.

Joanne Gluck

Joanne Gluck is the General Manager at Parkside Student Residence. Joanne started her journey with Canadian Campus Communities as a General Manager in 2016.

Karmichael Castillo

Karmichael Castillo is the Associate General Manager at Puerta del Sol since 2019. Karmichael started his journey with American Campus Communities as a Community Assistant in 2010. Over the years, Karmichael has served as a Resident Director and Assistant General Manager.

Matthew Fleming

Matthew Fleming is the Director, Housing & Residence Life at Centennial Place Residence (813) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Matthew started his journey with Canadian Campus Communities as a Marketing & Leasing Coordinator in 2015. Previously, Matt has contributed as a Residence Life Coordinator and Assistant Director, Housing prior to beginning his current position in 2017.

guest speakers SUPERVISION

B andon Silva

ndon Silva is one of our newest Regional Managers! Brandon started journey with American Campus Communities in 2015 as a mmunity Assistant in Orlando, FL. Brandon has experience as a sing Manager, Assistant General Manager, & General Manager, and 020, he was part of the first Flamingo Crossings Village team as an erations Manager before returning to traditional ops as an Area.

Lauren Costa

Lauren Costa is the Area Manager in Michigan over Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti. Lauren started her adventure with American Campus in 2009 as a Community Assistant. Lauren has always pursued opportunity. Lauren's resume includes CA, Leasing Manager, Bookkeeper, AGM, & Inside Track Graduate, all before moving half way across the country to become a GM in Durham, NH. Lauren has served as a GM/Area Manager in multiple markets, and is always willing to lend her time and experience to others.

Manny Vela

Manuel “Manny” Vela is the General Manager at Islander Housing in Corpus Christi, TX. Manny started his journey with ACC as a Resident Assistant in 2007. Prior to becoming a General Manager in Laredo, TX in 2014, Manny served as both a Business Manager and Assistant General Manager. Manny is an Inside Track graduate, and Islander Housing is the second community Manny has called “Home” as a GM.

Shelby Clements

Shelby Clements is one of our newest Area Managers located in Richmond, VA. In 2013, Shelby started as a Community Assistant in Greenville, NC. Over the years, Shelby has been a Senior Community Assistant, Leasing Coordinator and Assistant General Manager prior to tackling her General Manager role which had her overseeing 3 distinct communities at one time.

My name is Christy Owen-Ghinelli, I’ve been with American Campus in either the Operations or Residence Life capacity since 2009. I started in College Station, TX as a Community Assistant *Whoop! It was College Station where I fell in love with American Campus and all we have to offer university students.

Listen, Learn, Grow! The PULSE Resident Satisfaction Survey is sent out annually to all residents at the end of October. The feedback we receive from this survey is vital to our relationship with current and future residents. Through this effort we are able to connect with students on their timeline and encourage honest thoughts. We can only “Put Students First” when we hear their true needs.

A CASE STUDY: SOLVE IT!

It is February 2023, and you have noticed that one of your stronger CAs/RAs has had a decline in job performance. They have been showing up late, forgetting to complete paperwork and not providing good customer service. However, you have not noticed a visible change in behavior or demeanor from that staff member.

1. What is your initial approach with this staff member?

2. How would you assess and minimize the impact on the rest of the staff?

3. What specific steps would you take to address the performance concerns and help the CA/RA to improve their performance?

4. If the situation is unfixable, and that person chooses to resign, what steps can you take to ensure a positive exit plan for them? Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit responses to our case study!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Ashley Watkins Isabel Vargas

Desirae Nobles Dillon Clarke

Dylan Doyle Kyla McRae Katherine Slatton

Noella Spann

FINALISTS

"The goal is to urge the CA is to stay in the moment and focus on the relationships that they made with their coworkers and the impacts they made with their residents as those relationships and memories will extend far beyond their time as a CA with ACC." Wharton General Manager -Corpus Christi, TX Perea General Manager Morgantown, WV Rzeszutko Austin,

"When I hire someone and the start, one of the first thing I let them know is that I am here to help them along their journey. This is the beginning and when you leave this office you will not be the same person as when you came in."

"Good managers stop here, great managers take their resigning employee’s feedback and get to work making sure they won’t fall short on a future or other current employee, if they may have missed the mark. "