Meet the RAs! - Elizabeth Nielsen

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 Elizabeth Nielsen, RA in Schneider Hall.

1. What's your name? Elizabeth Nielsen, but most people call me Liz.

2. Where are you from? Mahomet, IL

3. What's your major? I'm going for two BA degrees- one in Theater, the other in Political Science.

4. What is the best program or event you've been to on campus? My favorite event of the year is that first Dawg's Nite Out, the first week of each fall semester. I also enjoy cheering on our Salukis with the band at both Men's and Women's basketball games, volleyball matches, and football.

5. What was the last book you read for fun? I'm currently working through the A Song of Ice and Fire series- reading A Clash of Kings.

6. What is your favorite thing about being an RA? I really enjoy high-pressure, or bizarre duty situations. Of course, I've met and worked with many interesting people too and have made some friends.

7. How else are you involved at SIU (in addition to being an RA)? I get to use the phrase "I'm with the band" pretty much every week. I'm a Drum Major for the Marching Salukis, as well as Uniform Chair. I play Piccolo in the Pep Band and Symphonic Band. I've designed costumes for student films, and am designing for another one this semester. I work a second job sewing, and occasionally draping clothes in the Theater Department Costume Shop, and am President of our school's student chapter of USITT (United States Institute of Theater Technology), an organization for theater technicians.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Somewhere in the United States, with a Master's degree, employed in a field I like, living in a castle in the middle of a woods, with a moat that doubles as a swimming pool, complete with a library and bookcase that spins into secret passageways.

9. What is your favorite quote? I have a few favorites:
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
"Act well your part; there all the honor lies." - Thespian motto (Alexander Pope)
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." - J.R.R. Tolkien (Frodo Baggins quoting Bilbo Baggins)

10. What do you do to unwind when you're feeling stressed? I do warm-ups I've learned from Theater acting classes- with breathing, vocal and physical exercises, these tend to be super relaxing, both for the mind and body. When I'm done, I feel like I can face the world again.

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.

Meet the RAs! - Savannah McCord

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 Savannah McCord, RA in Neely Hall.

1) What's your name? Savannah McCord

2) Where are you from? Sorry to the many Sox and Cubs fans from the Chicago area, but I'm a Cards Fan from the Good 'Ole St. Louis!

3) What's your major? I am currently double Majoring in Business Management and Psychology!

4) What is the best program or event you'd been to on campus? The easiest answer to that question is Dawg's Night Out, however, I am also personally a huge fan of the Football games. As far as Housing events go, my favorite event that has ever taken place was the Baking Scavenger Hunt and Competition we had on my floor!

5) What was the last book you read for fun? The last book I read for fun was The Fault in Our Stars by JohnGreen

6) What is your favorite thing about being an RA? Being an RA has been the most fulfilling experience of my time here in Carbondale, tied with being a Feature Twirler. I find incredible joy in seeing the residents prosper as they grow into themselves and as they mature throughout the school year. We always find time to have fun and maintain good grades, and it makes living in a Residence Hall as both an RA and a resident incredibly joyful!

7) How else are you involved at SIU? In addition to my RA position, I am also a Feature Twirler with the MarchingSalukis. Every Fall semester, you can see me with the Marching Band twirling my heart out! I am also a Research Assistant with the Southern Illinois Twins andSiblings Study (SITSS) Lab. I also hold a VP position in Psi Chi (the Psychology Honors Society and Academic Fraternity), and am currently getting ready to take part in pioneering an organization on campus through the Center for Inclusive Excellence (coming soon!)!

8) Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years, I will be approaching my 30s, and by then I am hoping to have obtained my Master's degree in Counseling and working with adolescents and young adults, alongside beginning my family and working on a Ph.D!

9) Favorite quote? "If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough." - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia

10) What do you do to unwind when you're feeling stressed? Whenever I am feeling stressed out, physical activity is my way to unwind! I love getting up and going for a run, dancing my stress away in Zumba, or doing some self-calming in yoga!

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.

Meet the RAs! - Jeremy Strabala

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 working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to check out the people who could be their future co-workers! RA profiles are featured on the blog, and graduate and full-time staff profiles (and information about positions) can be found on our recruitment website.

Jeremy with another University Hall RA, Sophia Lozano

1.  What’s your name? Jeremy Strabala
2.  Where are you from?  I'm from Streator, Illinois
3.  What’s your major?  My major is Architectural Studies
4.  What is your favorite dining hall food?  University Hall has the best food on campus. I love Shellie's alfredo sauce!!!!
5. Where is your favorite place to go off-campus? I love going to the spillway. There is so much to do there on a hot day. You can play in the waterfall or just lay around in the calm waters at the top. I HIGHLY recommend going!!!
6. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In ten years I can see myself being an experienced architect in California designing the most net zero earth friendly buildings as possible. If that does not pan out then I can definitely see myself working in Res Life because I love being an RA so much that I could see myself being a HD.
7.  What do you like about being an RA?  Being able to be in the position of Resident Assistant is a great opportunity; my favorite part would have to be creating both a community with my residents but also building a family with my staff. In the end we all know we have each others backs and we are there for each other.
8.  Favorite quote?  My favorite quote as of right now is "Character is what you do when no one is watching."
9.  Best study spot on campus?  I think the best place to get some studying done is at the U-Hall study tables that the RAs hold each night in our small dining room. Its always so quiet and I always crank out my homework there.
10.  How else are you involved at SIU (besides being an RA)?  I am a student worker for University Housing contracts, Director of the SIU Carbondale SpringDrag Show, Color Guard member of the Marching Salukis, Saluki Rainbow Network member, and also a Queer Mentors member.