Thursday, January 31, 2013

Meet the RAs! - John DeJaynes

SIU Residence Life has some outstanding Resident Assistants, and we want to show our appreciation by featuring them on our blog. We also hope people who are considering applying for the RA position will take a minute to check out the people who could be their future co-workers! Look for new RA profiles to be posted regularly as we continue this feature!




1. What's your name? John Jacob DeJaynes
2. Where are you from? I am from a small town called Abingdon. It only has about 3,000 people in the town and there is next to no diversity.
3. What's your major? I am currently a Psychology Major hoping to get an emphasis in grad. school on the abnormal and psychopathology fields.
4. What is your favorite dining hall food? I. LOVE. BUFFALO WINGS.
5. Where is your favorite place to go off-campus? That is definitely a big toss up between Panera and Applebee's.
6. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years, I hope that I have some kind of research job full time, whether it be helping kids or adults. I hope to be settled down with my girlfriend in a nice apartment/house and have a steady life on my shoulders.
7. What do you like about being an RA? Other than the financial advantage, I feel like being an RA is helping me with my future degree in Psychology. My future career will deal a lot with people and this job helps me prepare myself for various situations.
8. Favorite quote? “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
9. Best study spot on campus? In my room, with my TV and all electronics turned off.
10. How else are you involved at SIU (besides being an RA)? At the moment I am not really involved with SIU. I am hoping to get into various research labs and even attend PsiChi this semester.

Meet the RAs! - Jeanette Grosman

SIU Residence Life has some outstanding Resident Assistants, and we want to show our appreciation by featuring them on our blog. We also hope people who are considering applying for the RA position will take a minute to check out the people who could be their future co-workers! Look for new RA profiles to be posted regularly as we continue this feature!

We love your Saluki Pride, Jeanette!

1.  What’s your name?  Jeanette Grosman 
2.  Where are you from?  Vernon Hills, IL 
3.  What’s your major?  Communication Disorders & Sciences 
4.  What is your favorite dining hall food?  It’s a tie between Tortellini Alfredo and Thai Noodles 
5.  Where is your favorite place to go off-campus?  Giant City State Park 
6.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  Living in the Midwest and working as a Speech Pathologist in an elementary school 
7.  What do you like about being an RA?  Meeting so many new people and having a community both on my floor and as a staff 
8.  Favorite quote?  "Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have." - Anonymous
9.  Best study spot on campus?  The seating area in front of the library, overlooking the fountain and enjoying a smoothie from the library café on a sunny day :)
10.  How else are you involved at SIU (besides being an RA)?  I’m president of SIU Hillel, Junior Advisor of AlphaLambda Delta Honor Society, and member of National Residence Hall Honorary. I also love going to group fitness classes at the Rec!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Meet the RAs! - Alexis Flowers

SIU Residence Life has some outstanding Resident Assistants, and we want to show our appreciation by featuring them on our blog. We also hope people who are considering applying for the RA position will take a minute to check out the people who could be their future co-workers! Look for new RA profiles to be posted regularly as we continue this feature!



1.  What's your name?  Alexis Flowers
2.  Where are you from?  Peoria, IL
3.  What's your major?  Speech Communication: Specializing in Public Relations Minor: Marketing
4.  What is your favorite dining hall food?  Grinnell Pizza
5.  Where if your favorite place to go off-campus?  Movies
6.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  I see myself married with kids, and working for a major PR firm.
7.  What do you like about being an RA?  I enjoy building relationships with residents, and seeing them succeed.
8. Favorite quote?  Live, Laugh, Love
9. Best study spot on campus?  5th floor library
10.  How else are you involved at SIU (besides being an RA)?  member of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America)

Meet the RAs! - Daniel Ray

SIU Residence Life has some outstanding Resident Assistants, and we want to show our appreciation by featuring them on our blog. We also hope people who are considering applying for the RA position will take a minute to check out the people who could be their future co-workers! Look for new RA profiles to be posted regularly as we continue this feature!


1.  What/s your name?  Daniel Ray
2.  Where are you from?  Arlington Heights, Illinois
3.  What's your major?  Automotive Technology
4.  What is your favorite dining hall food?  Pot roast night is by far the best thing they offer.
5.  Where is your favorite place to go off-campus?  Giant City State Park
6.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  I can see myself either working in a local shop or starting my own shop.
7.  What do you like about being an RA?  getting to meet other people who i would not normally meet
8.  Favorite quote?  Psalms 119:133  "keep steady my steps according to your promise and let no iniquity get dominion over me."
9.  Best study spot on campus?  lower level of Trueblood in the diner-style tables
10.  How else are you involved at SIU (besides being an RA)?  i am involved at Vine Church. I go to a small group and help set up the church for Sunday services

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Meet the RAs! - Lauren Kyriazes

SIU Residence Life has some outstanding Resident Assistants, and we want to show our appreciation by featuring them on our blog. We also hope people who are considering applying for the RA position will take a minute to check out the people who could be their future co-workers! Look for new RA profiles to be posted regularly as we continue this feature!



  1. What’s your name? Lauren Kyriazes
  2. Where are you from? North West Suburbs of Chicago, IL
  3. What’s your major? Undergrad = Psychology with a minor on Rehabilitation Services. Graduate Program = Rehabilitation Counseling
  4. What is your favorite dining hall food? Mac n Cheese or Nacho Cheese Ravioli
  5. Where is your favorite place to go off-campus? Walmart or movies
  6. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? As the main on-staff Rehabilitation Counselor for drug and alcohol rehab
  7. What do you like about being an RA? I have met so many amazing people that I can see will be friends with for a long time! I have matured and grown from this job. Learning more about myself and others on a daily basis. It is a fun and demanding job, yet it never gets old. There is something new to learn each day, and there is always something interesting happening. I love to be able to see my residents grow and become adults.
  8. Favorite quote? "Live with no regrets"
  9. Best study spot on campus? my room :-) 
  10. How else are you involved at SIU (besides being an RA)? I try to volunteer if possible, and help out other parts of campus when I have free time.

Meet the RAs! - Andrea Chairse

SIU Residence Life has some outstanding Resident Assistants, and we want to show our appreciation by featuring them on our blog. We also hope people who are considering applying for the RA position will take a minute to check out the people who could be their future co-workers! Look for new RA profiles to be posted regularly as we continue this feature!


1.  What’s your name?  My name is Andrea Chairse.
2.  Where are you from?  I am from Bellwood, IL, which is a western suburb outside of Chicago, IL.
3.  What’s your major?  I double major in Paralegal Studies and Criminology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Political Science.
4.  What is your favorite dining hall food?  My favorite dining hall foods are the baked sweet potatoes, the French fries and anything else that is considered a carb.
5.  Where is your favorite place to go off-campus?  My favorite place to go on campus is the library. It is always very quiet there and the staff is very helpful. 
6.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  In ten years, I will be a practicing attorney at a Sports and Entertainment firm. I plan to be happy and married living in an undetermined location. I furthermore see myself as doing some pro-bono work as a juvenile defense public defender.
7.  What do you like about being an RA?  What I like the most about being an RA is the feeling of knowing that my advice and words make a difference in a student’s life. I also, love the fact that I get to hold programs for my residents, in which they can benefit from in the long run. Moreover, I enjoy being the community leader that has the ability to get the students involved. 
8.  Favorite quote?  My favorite quote is by Lewis Cass and it states “People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do”.
9.  Best study spot on campus?  The best study spot on campus, in my opinion, is any area with wireless Internet connection and very quiet.
10.  How else are you involved at SIU (besides being an RA)?   Besides being an RA, I am actively involved on campus. I am the programming chair for African Student Council; A Mentor for Padrinos, which is through the Hispanic Resource Center; The President of the Organization for Paralegal Students, and the Vice President of Professional Development for Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Meet the RAs! - Greg Gierling

SIU Residence Life has some outstanding Resident Assistants, and we want to show our appreciation by featuring them on our blog. We also hope people who are considering applying for the RA position will take a minute to check out the people who could be their future co-workers! Look for new RA profiles to be posted regularly as we continue this feature!


1. What's your name?  Greg Gierling 
2. Where are you from?  Crete, IL 
3. What's your major?  Physical Education 
4. What is your favorite dining hall food?  Philly beef sandwich 
5. Where is your favorite place to go off-campus?  Vintage soul- great quiet place to relax and study! 
6. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?  Either a teacher or a Hall Director at a university 
7. What do you like about being an RA?  The connections I make with my residents and helping them in anyway I can.
8. Favorite quote?  "All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them" -Galileo
9. Best study spot on campus?  5th floor of the library (very quiet and peaceful). 
10. How else are you involved at SIU (besides being an RA)?  Student Conduct Board member, President of NRHH, President of the PETE (Physical Education Teacher Education) club, and helped coordinate the 9th annual PE and health conference with one of my instructors.

November/December Of The Month Winners!

With the holidays, we almost forgot to recognize our Of The Month winners from November and December of 2012. It's a good thing we didn't though - there were some great things going on!

First and foremost, we would like to give a tremendous shout out to Shane Kenealy. Shane was the NATIONAL WINNER for First Year Student Of The Month of November. A resident of Mae Smith hall, Shane showed phenomenal leadership and commitment to his building and the overall residential community on campus. Some highlights of Shane's leadership on campus include attendance and representation at Residence Hall Association (RHA) meetings, communication between RHA and the Mae Smith Area Council, participation in RA programming and large-scale events on campus, presence on Facebook, and contributions to a bid to host the 2014 Illinois Residence Hall Association (IRHA) annual conference. Read more about Shane's incredible contributions to University Housing here.

Campus Winners for the month of November include:

Executive Board member Of The Month Camillia Bone "With an overall vision of improving and enhancing record keeping for the Association, Camillia spent extra time on a new process tracking receipts and funds. By taking time to enhance this process, Camillia was able to better direct discussions around programming and budget limits when fellow executive board members needed guidance."

Graduate Assistant Of The Month Yemisi Pleasant "I can talk to basically anyone on my staff, and while I do appreciate them all SO much, Yemisi is great because she can relate."

Institution Faculty/Staff Of The Month Caitlin Entwistle "She may be the shop manager (Costume Shop Manager for the SIU Carbondale Theater Department), but she is also an excellent, patient instructor for everyone from freshman to graduate student, and she does not put anyone down for asking what could be considered silly questions, but answers them happily. This dedication to her work and to the learning of others is the reason Caitlin Entwistle should be considered for Institution Faculty/Staff of the Month."

Passive Program Of The Month (done by Sophie Lozano of University Hall) "In order of the residents to actively seek out information on a bulletin board, the theme and execution must be eye-catching with reliable information. Sophie found the perfect balance between entertainment and usefulness. The theme of this board was the Simpsons. In the introduction of every episode is Bart Simpson writing what he will not do in class. Sophie altered the text to provided a list of what not to do at the end of the semester. With her attention to details, hand- drawn Bart Simpson, and clever wording, this bulletin board is the perfect balance"


Residence Life Faculty/Staff Of The Month David Keys "David has made the staff feel like a family through constant connection and showing interest in their lives in and out of their job."

Resident Assistant Of The Month Sara Craft "As her coworker I know that Sara is an amazing resource on staff and an amazing friend. In the past month I had to go home for an extended amount of time and Sara was the first person to cover my duty without questioning my motives. Knowing that in my time of need I had a staff member that had my back made being with my family much easier."

Residential Community Of The Month Education LLC 6th floor Mae Smith "Together, this group of people is one I know will succeed simply because they have each other for support and love. They have managed to create a home away from home, which is something every floor and residence hall should hope to accomplish."

Social Program Of The Month Bag of Warm Fuzzies "This program allowed residents to recognize each other's postitive personality traits and contributions to the floor. Residents benefited from reading their own notes because it gave them a boost of confidence and recognition for their positivity. The fact that residents continued to write notes even after the program shows that residents enjoyed this program and benefited from it."

Spotlight Of The Month Jerry Boren "One of my favorite places to go on SIU campus is into West Campus' Lakeside Express. Not because I can get food there, but because of Jerry. He's always there with a smile and asks how things are going. If there's something that isn't there, he's right there ready to check and see if they have it in storage. Aside from being on top of things, Jerry always has an encouraging word to say if I'm having a rough day."

Student Of The Month Adam McCallister "From the moment Adam stepped foot onto Southern Illinois University Carbondale's campus, he made a difference. Immediately, Adam became involved in organizations on campus such as Progressive MasculinitiesMentors as well as Saluki Rainbow Network. His work ethic as a freshman was outstanding; he picked up a job as a tour guide for the school as well as a member of the Marketing Team for the campus. Having the pleasure of working with Adam while being tour guides it was clear when he spoke, people listened. He has the air of a natural born leader and is able to connect to the audience he is addressing."

Campus Winners of the month of December are:

Graduate Assistant Of The Month Jon Gorgosz "GA Jon Gorgosz' example of how to respectfully handle a situation with raging residents was very beneficial to me and the rest of us RAs watching."

Spotlight Of The Month Barbara "Basia" Wilas "Basia serves University Housing as an Office Assistant and has proven to be the definition of an upbeat employee who sees work a little differently throughout the month of December. Ralph Waldo Emerson once noted “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” This is very true of Basia throughout the past month. She has changed the way she views work, and her work has greatly changed because of it."

As always, we'd like to recognize those who submit OTM nominations. Thank you Colleen Hoogenboom, Nicolette Winn, Hannah Sinclair, Elizabeth Nielsen, Robert Lyons, Miranda Hayes, Sarah Larsen, Rachel Reynolds, Sean Boyd, Jonathan Rivera, Rebecca Sisson, Lucas Sears, Jennifer Koob, Amanda Wyland, Hart Jorgensen, Sara Craft, Jes Carron, Sean Mathis, Jeanette Grosman, Gregory Gierling, Nicole Carlen, Radiah Henderson, Kalan Pivoney, Rebecca Borowiak, Seth Moore, Justin Schuch for your contributions to recognition!