ResLife: Developing Leaders

From cookouts to late-night maintenance calls, ResLife staff members work hard to create a sense of community and safety on campus. But did you know that behind the scenes, these staff members attend professional development workshops and engage in mentorship throughout the year to develop professionally and spiritually? 

RA training session

The academic year kicks off for ResLife with RA Training, a weeklong 8 am to 5 pm training for new and returning Resident Assistants (RA). With leadership and mental health training, problem-solving exercises, and Bible studies, RAs learn about the mission of ResLife and the significance of being a student leader in the res-halls and apartments. 

Once the school year begins, RAs meet weekly with the Resident Directors or Assistant Resident Directors (both full-time staff members who live on-site) for discipleship and mentorship. Whether they shoot hoops in the gym or grab a cup of coffee, these one-on-ones provide regular opportunities for Resident Directors to pour into their student-staff members. 

“HSU ResLife is so unique because of the amount of intentionality that poured into not only residents but also the ResLife staff itself,” shared Calli Pesina, current Assistant Resident Director of Anderson Hall. “HSU ResLife has helped me grow so much in my leadership abilities and confidence in myself. I truly believe that there isn’t a job that I could have had throughout my college career that prepared me more for the professional world than working with ResLife.” 

In addition to weekly one-on-ones and staff meetings, all ResLife staff members attend professional development workshops (affectionately called, “ProDev”) once a month. As one of the only times for the entirety of ResLife to get together, these workshops are crucial for establishing a sense of encouragement and comradery as staff members work toward the same goal. 

Josh Hazen

“ProDevs ensure that we all feel connected to the same mission and purpose as we serve on campus,” stated Josh Hazen, Resident Director of University Place Apartments. “We’re able to bounce ideas off each other, and our diverse staff brings in a variety of personalities and perspectives.” 

With guest speakers from HSU faculty and staff, ProDevs provide an opportunity for staff members to develop hands-on skills, understand more about their identity and how it relates to their leadership style, and grow spiritually.  

Last month, Aaron Martinez, University Counselor, spoke on the importance of mental health, how to recognize mental health issues, and how RAs can serve their residents as they walk through those seasons. With practical steps and resources in hand, RAs left the program with a variety of ways to better understand and serve residents.  

During April’s ProDev, HSU Construction Manager, Andrew Briscoe, shared the importance of leadership as he expanded upon the definition of the word “lead.” With experience in construction, mining, and higher education, Briscoe shared his perspective on encouraging a group of people to reach an end goal. 

“You are created in God’s image to do good works,” Briscoe stated. “Take a practical step to lead by remembering your purpose to do good works and submit to God’s will for your life.” 

ResLife does so much more than simply check residents out of their rooms at the end of the semester. By facilitating deep conversations behind the scenes, they are developing student leaders who can intentionally serve their peers. Kelly Eason, the newly appointed Director of ResLife, shared that the overall mission of ResLife is to “provide a Christ-centered living space that encourages community engagement, personal and spiritual development, and creates a safe place for students to achieve academic success while making amazing memories.” 

“Our hope is that our staff members will holistically transform professionally, personally, and spiritually. As we aim for spiritual formation, we want RAs to truly understand what their faith means to them and how they can use it in their life,” shared Hazen. “If our passion and our purpose co-align with our goals, then our behaviors and values can unite and ensure that we provide the best living experience possible.”