Resident Directors: The Position

The residence life “RD” can go by many names… Hall Director, Area Coordinator, Community Director, Residence Hall Coordinator, etc. Finding quality materials and resources related to the “RD” position in residence life and college student housing can be difficult. The following are curated resources to help you improve your practice.

If you have other suggested resources you think should be included in this page, let us know!

Blog Articles:

This blog series features different writers responding to the prompt, “What is the future of the RD position and role?”

Read Posts From The Series

Video

Dissertations

Rankin, P. R. (2013). Work/life boundary management in an integrative environment:
A study of residence life professionals who live at their place of work (Publication No. 1429526281) [Doctoral dissertation, University of San Diego]. ProQuest Central.
Thomas, I. J. (2018). The 24/7 student affairs professional: A study of how residence directors make meaning of wellness (Publication No. 10823561) [Doctoral dissertation, Northeastern University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

Books, Research, and Journal Articles

Belch, H. A., Wilson, M. E., & Dunkel, N. (2009). Cultures of success: Recruiting and retaining new live-in residence life professionals. College Student Affairs Journal, 27(2), 176–193.
Davidson, D. L. (2012). Job satisfaction, recruitment, and retention of entry-level residence life and housing staff. The Journal of College and University Student Housing, 38(2), 78–93.
Scheuermann, T., & Ellett, T. (2007). A 3-D view of recruitment and retention of entry-level housing staff: Déjà vu, deliberation, decisive action. The Journal of College and University Student Housing, 34(2), 12–20.
St. Onge, S., Ellett, T., & Nestor, E. M. (2008). Factors affecting recruitment and retention of entry-level housing and residential life staff: Perceptions of chief housing officers.The Journal of College and University Student Housing, 35(2), 10–23.