Housing and Residence Life: Community & Engagement | Competencies & Learning | Care & Case Management | Assessment
One of the most interesting lessons I have learned in seven years of residence life work is that helping someone does not always mean solving their problem. That can be a difficult idea to reconcile with student affairs work. We are deeply committed to serving students. We want them to feel heard, supported, and cared... Continue Reading →
We all have moments in our careers where we cringe. I remember a regular departmental staff meeting my second year of graduate school, where our director shared with us that we were doing something new today. Depending on your demeanor, the words, “something new” can either be very exciting or terrifying. I wasn’t quite sure... Continue Reading →
Recently, a colleague, Paige Harris, and I were working on a presentation about incorporating joy at work. We were brainstorming about what joy looks like for each person and that each supervisor doesn’t have to create joy in the same way for it to be meaningful for a team. We ended up coming up with... Continue Reading →
A quick and essential disclaimer to start: I have never been one to believe in perfect work/life balance. Or at least not what many folx see as that perfect balance - complete segmentation and no crossing of boundaries between apportioned “work time” and “life time.” Maybe it’s because I am the child of secondary school... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join host Noah and students Chi Truong and Emma Elson as they reflect on their experience at the NextGen Institute and discuss their plans to pursue a career in Student Affairs. The three tell stories, share advice and experiences, and reflect on our field in an honest and thought provoking way.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join Noah and Taylor Hogan as they talk about joy. Being in a caring field can take its toll. Residence Life staff are often requested to do more with less all while living where we work and being constantly surrounded by the work itself. Thus, it becomes crucial to find the joy to make the work and being people in the work sustainable. Join Noah and Taylor as they talk about finding joy, tell stories, and provide advice to Residence Life staff.
Whimsy has become an internet phenomenon in the year of 2026 - and for good reason! The concept of whimsy has helped bring joy and fun into small moments during day-to-day life. From adding sprinkles to a coffee to getting lost on purpose, whimsy is how a lot of people are intentionally slowing down and... Continue Reading →
It’s truly the most glorious time of the year. The days are longer, the sun is shining and we are days away from the peace that comes with our students moving out of the residence halls for a few months. This might be the time to deep clean your office, reach out to all of... Continue Reading →
Two years ago, I became a residence life graduate assistant, drawing on prior experience as a student staff member, relevant coursework in pedagogy and sociology of higher education, and participation in a student affairs seminar led by my alma mater's senior student affairs officer. My undergraduate capstone project centered on the curricular approach, the main... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Crystal sits down with Aaron Lucier, Interim Director of Housing & Residential Life at the University of South Carolina Upstate. Aaron reflects on what mattered most, how the field has evolved, and the lessons learned along the way. From leadership and identity to the moments that sustained them, this conversation offers insight and guidance for the next generation of housing professionals.
Every year (yes, academic AND calendar) I like to spend some time with my tarot cards as a point of reflection on what I’ve done and where I might need to go to live my best life. I think a lot about the messages that we can learn from the Major Arcana, which tell an... Continue Reading →
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 →
As the year draws to a close, Residence Life professionals might feel one of two ways: you’re either careening toward the end of the semester full-tilt, hair getting increasingly tangled, shooting espresso with alarming frequency, OR the office is getting a little quieter each day with more and more folks taking time off, events and... Continue Reading →
If you work in Residence Life, you’ve probably been at a family gathering or social event where someone asks, “So… what exactly do you do?” And then you find yourself trying to explain a job that somehow includes crisis response, student development, event planning, facilities management, counseling, and occasionally amateur plumbing. So, for everyone who... Continue Reading →
The midpoint of the first semester often arrives quietly. Between midterms, conduct meetings, and fall programming, we might suddenly realize that the semester is half over, and with it, the feeling that our course is already set. The communities are established, the RAs have found their rhythms, and the energy of opening has been replaced... Continue Reading →
In this energizing episode of ResEdChat, host Dustin Ramsdell reconnects with Sean Watson — a returning guest and now a Roompact blogging team member — to explore how ResLife pros can nurture creativity both in and outside of work. Sean shares why creativity isn't just for artists and how embracing play, structure, and self-expression can actually make you better at your job. From performing poetry to writing emails with flair, this conversation is an honest and inspiring look at the power of creativity in student affairs and beyond.
When I first became a parent, I thought I had a good handle on chaotic schedules, emotional outbursts, and sleep deprivation. After all, I work in residence life! I’d managed crisis situations at 2 a.m., mediated roommate conflicts that could rival a soap opera, and helped launch countless student leaders. Parenting shares a lot of... Continue Reading →
Residence life professionals know that our days (and nights) are filled with intense moments that demand presence, clarity, and care. Tea, in its diverse forms, has been a quiet companion to humans for millennia, offering calm, focus, or celebration depending on what the moment calls for. Here are six varieties of tea to pair with... Continue Reading →
