ResEdChat Ep 164: Creating Communities of Belonging: Strategies for Supporting LGBTQIA+ Students

On this episode of ResEdChat, join our host Noah Montague and guest Ben Williams as they talk about the needs of residential LGBTQIA+ students and the role of Residence Life Staff in supporting this population. While no student population is a monolith, especially when we are talking about marginalized students; LGBTQIA+ students have unique situations, supports, and joys that are crucial to consider and unpack, especially for live in staff. Join Ben and Noah as they explore these, share stories of their own experiences, and provide practical advice to Residence Life Staff.

January 22, 2026

Moving From Resolutions to Intentions: Sustainable Goal-Setting for Resident Advisors

January on campus tends to arrive with a mix of hope and pressure. It brings with it that new quarter/semester energy and, sometimes, new resolutions that feel motivating on January 1 but disheartening by the end of the first week. As Resident Advisors, you are not only navigating your own growth but also being role... Continue Reading →

January 21, 2026

How to Make the Best Out of Not Paying Rent: Personal Budgeting Advice for the Live-In ResLife Pros

Although it may sound a little odd, one of my favorite hobbies is budgeting. As a person who loves to collect many different types of items, and who carries an insatiable love of traveling, I’ve become rather skilled in how to make my money bend and stretch. There’s a certain satisfaction that comes from filling... Continue Reading →

January 20, 2026

ResLife Generational Change: Digital Residence Life – Technology is Reshaping Student Living

Residence Life practices are changing with the times, or at least they should be. Technology is everywhere, including in the way the residential spaces are designed. The historic residential spaces persist and that age old motto “if it aint broke, don’t fix it” will continue for as long as possible, mostly due to replacement costs... Continue Reading →

January 19, 2026

1 Tip For Returning RAs: Remember Why You Chose to Come Back

Returning as a Resident Advisor is a deliberate choice. It’s a decision made after you’ve already experienced late-night duty rounds, difficult conversations, paperwork, and emotional labor. No one accidentally signs up to do this job twice. That’s why, when the year becomes demanding, it’s essential to remember why you came back to this job in... Continue Reading →

January 18, 2026

Five Tips to Get You into the Residence Area You Want!

Universities typically provide different kinds of housing, catered towards different communities and resident populations. Typically, RA’s and student staff members will have areas that they prefer to live in, which makes these spaces more competitive for assignments. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get assigned to the area that you want. 1. Start... Continue Reading →

January 17, 2026

1 Tip For New RAs: The Boundary Skill You Don’t Realize You Need Yet As A New RA

~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ By Kiyauna Lewis When you start as an RA, your first initiative is to be as present for your residents as possible. Although this is a great way to start, it can become incredibly overwhelming and draining, almost immediately. The last thing you would want is... Continue Reading →

January 17, 2026

1 Tip For Returning RAs: It’s Okay to Ask For Help & When to Reach Out

By Kate Pilcher Returning to the RA role often comes with a quiet, unspoken pressure: you should know this by now. You’ve already navigated your way around campus, duty, rounds, roommate conflicts, crisis protocols, and the sometimes emotionally taxing labor that comes with supporting residents. Due to exposure and experience, returning RAs are frequently seen... Continue Reading →

January 16, 2026

ResEdChat Ep 163: Supporting Student Staff Well-Being with McKenzie Howard

In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Graduate Residence Hall Coordinator Mckenzie Howard at Eastern Kentucky University will share what's proven to be best practices to provide ongoing care, taking the time to debrief, and creating a culture that prioritizes well-being after critical incidents for student staff. Howard developed a "Comprehensive Care Plan" that she and other co-workers have used throughout the academic year to maintain the standard of care that has been set for her department. Let's discuss!

January 15, 2026

New Boss: Advice for Working with a New Supervisor in Residence Life

At some point in your time as a student leader, you may get a different supervisor. Sometimes this happens because you are put on a different community/building team at the start of a new school year, while other times it is because a supervisor has left and a new supervisor is hired in their place.... Continue Reading →

January 14, 2026

Feedback Freakout: Learning to Take Criticism in ResLife

A tale as old as time! A supervisor asks, “How do you like to receive feedback?” and the supervisee confidently replies, “I prefer direct feedback.” Time passes, the supervisor provides that direct feedback, and suddenly, the supervisee is shocked, defensive, and hurt. Everyone leaves the conversation feeling a little worse for wear. Feedback is one... Continue Reading →

January 13, 2026

ResLife Generational Change: College Students Crave Genuine Connections & What ResLife Pros Can Do to Help

In 2017, I found myself as a freshman in college, rooming with three other strangers in a dorm where I knew nobody, on a campus where I knew no one. Even though I was surrounded by thousands of students my age, with whom I should have easily been able to connect, my freshman year of... Continue Reading →

January 12, 2026

1 Tip For Returning RAs: ‘Locking In’ Instead of Burning Out – Finding Meaning in the “Small Stuff”

By Erin Brown To all the returning RAs out there, welcome back and congratulations – you made it through at least a semester of staff meetings, on call nights, bulletin boards, and programming. You worked on building community, developing yourself through 1:1s and programs, and showing up as a leader to your area. You’re getting... Continue Reading →

January 11, 2026

ResLife Generational Change: Some Peace and Quiet–The Rising Demand for Privacy in On-Campus Housing

...and What it Means for Student Affairs Practitioners Trying to Build Community When I started college, I was excited about my new dorm and especially curious about who my roommate would be. Now, though, students are changing how they live and connect. More students see privacy as an important part of living on campus and... Continue Reading →

January 10, 2026

1 Tip For Returning RAs: Don’t Fall for the “I’ve Heard It All Before” Trap

By Molly Murray Stop me if this sounds familiar. “Why do I have to go to training again? I’ve been an RA for years and I’ve already sat through all of this.” You’re not wrong. Attending RA training as a returner can feel like watching a rerun of a TV show. But hear me out,... Continue Reading →

January 9, 2026

ResEdChat Ep 162: What Mentorship Can Look Like in Housing with Leya Deickman

In this episode of Roompact’s ResEdChat, Crystal is joined by her mentee, Leya Deickman, Associate Director of Residence Life at William & Mary, for an honest conversation about mentorship in housing and residence life. Together, they reflect on timing, expectations, boundaries, and accountability, encouraging listeners to think about how mentorship might support their own growth and leadership.

January 8, 2026

Forming, Storming, Norming, and Adjourning in Residential Living

Resident Advisors (RAs) are first and foremost community builders. One of the simplest and most useful frameworks you can use to understand how your residents grow as a group is Tuckman’s stages of group development. This includes five stages (four of which I'm focusing on here): forming, storming, norming, (performing), and adjourning. In university housing,... Continue Reading →

January 7, 2026

The HRL Leadership Chronicles: What I Wish I Would’ve Known

When I entered my third year as a Resident Director, I itched for the days when I finally had a seat at the leadership table – making actual contributions to departmental decisions, dedicating most of my time to long-term departmental planning, processes – vowing that when I was in a position of leadership, I would... Continue Reading →

January 6, 2026

Follow Us