Meet the RAs! - Jessica Carron

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

As we recruit new Resident Assistants for the 2014-2015 year, we wanted to introduce a few of the talented individuals currently on our team. This profile features Jessica Carron, RA in the Wall & Grand Apartments!

What’s your name? Jessica Carron

Where are you from? Germantown, IL 

What’s your major? History and Journalism with a Specialization in Advertising 

 
What is the best program or event you’ve been to on campus? I love Week of Welcome, because there is so much to do and it's a time of constant mingling with new people. There's a lot of free stuff too, and as a true college student, I appreciate anything free. 

  

What was the last book you read for fun? I read Game of Thrones over winter break, and I am currently working on the second book. It's so good, but constantly breaks my heart.

What is your favorite thing about being an RA? I love getting to know my residents. Everyone has a different story and I learn something new every day. I also love decorating the floor with bulletin boards and door decs and advertisements. Who wouldn't love getting paid to do craft time? 

How else are you involved at SIU (in addition to being an RA)? I am a desk assistant at Mae Smith, Vice President of PR and Advertising for the National Residence Hall Honorary, and a member of SIU LifeSavers and Future Leaders in Student Affairs. I'm also a Chancellor Scholar and a part of the Honors Program.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I am hoping to be working at a university in some way; either in housing, academic advising or even teaching. It would be even better if I were working outside of the United States. Here's hoping!

What is your favorite quote? "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one come to you without leaving happier." - Mother Teresa 

What do you do to unwind when you’re feeling stressed? I like to watch movies, read, draw or nap. Mostly nap.

Interested in the Resident Assistant position? Apply today! http://www.housing.siu.edu/positions/resident-assistant

Are you an RA and would like to be featured? Talk to your Hall Director about submitting your profile information.

Mock Interviews

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website. Today's blog post was written by Gena Stack, Coordinator of Conference Services and part of the advisement team for Future Leaders in Student Affairs. Pictures provided by David Keys, Hall Director of the Wall & Grand Apartments and part of the advisement team for Future Leaders in Student Affairs.

 

As student affairs professionals, one of our most important charges is mentoring and guiding students who aspire to become professionals in the field. One way we address this at SIU Carbondale is through Future Leaders in Student Affairs (FLSA). FLSA helps students at all academic levels, from first-year students to graduate students, learn more about opportunities available to them in higher education and ways to take advantage of those opportunities. FLSA programs are planned by an advisement team; the 2012-2013 team consists of myself; David Keys, Hall Director of the Wall & Grand Apartments; and Jon Gorgosz, Assistant Hall Director in Mae Smith Hall. While not everyone attends all of our programs, FLSA currently has 50+ undergraduate students, 20+ graduate members, and nearly 60 faculty and staff who have expressed interest in involvement.

 

With interview season swiftly approaching, we recognized a need to prepare our students for placement exchanges and on-campus interview processes. On Thursday, February 7, we scheduled a résumé review session. Students brought their résumés and shared them professionals from across campus, including Keri Young, Director of Career Services at SIU Carbondale.

After receiving résumé feedback, our students were ready to hone their interview skills. We hosted two 3 1/2 hour interview blocks on Friday, February 15 and Monday, February 18. Students signed up for one of the Mock Interview sessions, and during their assigned time interviewed with four different professionals (or pairs of professionals) from different campus offices and attended a mock social. Interviews lasted 25-30 minutes, and "employers" were asked to spend the last five minutes of each session giving feedback to the "candidate".

Candidates waiting for their mock interviews

The mock social was a new component we introduced this year. Students in previous years gave feedback about feeling prepared for the interviews but overwhelmed and unsettled by socials, particularly those at placement exchanges. We provided light refreshments (so students would think about food choices and how they work/don't work in the setting) and asked all our participants to mingle for about 30 minutes. For an added twist, we distributed challenges to candidates and employers. Some employers were instructed to attempt to monopolize a particular candidate or avoid talking to candidates altogether; candidates were each given a top employer to particularly try to impress.

 

Mock Social

 

11 students went through the process as "candidates"; 7 graduate students and 4 undergraduates. 14 staff members served as "employers" - we were lucky to have faculty and staff volunteers from Student Involvement & Leadership Development, Fraternity & Sorority Life, Career Services, Residence Life, Student Rights & Responsibilities, Saluki First Year, and the department of Education Administration and Higher Education. The different experiences of our "employers" allowed our "candidates" to answer a wide range of questions and interact with people using a broad variety of interview styles and techniques.

Overall we received really positive feedback from the students who went through this process. Additionally, faculty and staff who were involved said it was a valuable way for them to practice their interview skills (particularly for those preparing to recruit) and a great way to meet and interact with students.

Meet the RAs! - Nicole Carlen

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!

 
· What’s your name? --Nicole Carlen
· Where are you from? --Greenup, IL
· What’s your major? --Agriculture Communications
· What is your favorite dining hall food? --Cheese Tortellini Alfredo
· Where is your favorite place to go off-campus? --The Spillway just west of Murphysboro
· Where do you see yourself in 10 years? --In ten years I hope to see myself having just finished obtaining my PhD and working at a university as an academic adviser for undecided major students, as well as married and with children.
· What do you like about being an RA? --Getting to interact with the residents and be the positive role model that they look up to.
· Favorite quote? --If you smile, you can do anything, but if you can laugh you can take on the world.
· Best study spot on campus? --My room.
· How else are you involved at SIU (besides being an RA)? --I'm the Vice President of Finance and Administration for the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH). I'm also part of Future Leaders in Student Affairs (FLSA).