Welcome to the Team - Alisha Severson!

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.

This post was written by Alisha Severson. Alisha is the Assistant Director of Residence Life overseeing West Campus.

My first few weeks at SIU… 

Hello! My name is Alisha Severson and I am the new Assistant Director of Residence Life and will be working with West Campus this upcoming academic year. Before coming to SIU I worked at the University of Northern Iowa, Eastern Illinois University and Ball State University. I am excited to join the SIU family and become a Saluki! 

My first few weeks at SIU have been hectic, but incredibly fun. Professional staff training for our residence life staff is over four weeks in length and I have been enjoying learning about campus, SIU students, and how hard residence life works to create safe, inclusive and engaging environments for the 4,000+ residents that reside in our hall and apartment communities. I have had the opportunity to meet many of the administrative and support staff in housing, help all of our new live-in hall directors move into their buildings and meet with faculty and some of our living learning community partners to discuss mutual goals, resources and plans for the upcoming year. I have been continually impressed by the dedication to students that is clearly present across all academic and administrative departments!

Locally my husband and I have enjoyed figuring out all of the one way streets in Carbondale and trying out the best restaurants in town (Longbranch Cafe is our favorite so far). We also have enjoyed sightseeing around the area and finding our way around SIU’s gorgeous campus! So far the people, the food and the sights have not disappointed! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join SIU’s residence life team and the dynamic professional staff that work hard to help create strong communities within the residence halls. I am anxiously awaiting the return of our student staff, student leaders and residents in the coming weeks. You can find my office in Lentz Hall on West Campus, stop in and to say hello if you are in the area this Fall!

Welcome to the team - Elina Savoie!

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.

This post was written by Elina Savoie. Elina is a new Hall Director this year, and will be working in West Campus.

Over the past few weeks, the Residence Life Senior Staff has been in Hall Director training and it was a great way to jump into being a member of the team!

After deciding Southern Illinois University was the place for me, my spring really picked up speed knowing my move to Carbondale would soon follow. I enjoyed my June off at my parents’ house and did a good amount of traveling before moving all of my belongings to Carbondale. I cannot put into words how welcoming the staff, students, and community have been to me even over the short few weeks I have been at SIU. I have gotten to participate in many community events so far, such as Sunset Concerts, a great 4th of July trip to St. Louis, Campus Lake, exploring shopping/campus, and the Campus Rec! I even bought a new bike to enjoy some more time outdoors.

Training went full speed from day 1 which has allowed me to not just sit and listen to how Residence Life at SIU operates, but to start providing my input. Learning with and from such a strong team has truly been the most exciting part for me and I cannot wait to see what this year holds! Stop into my office in Lentz to say hi and checkout my rubber duck collection (and ask to change them out)!

RA Appreciation Week! - West Campus

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.

April 20-26 is Resident Assistant Appreciation Week! In Residence Life we know our RAs work very hard to provide a great experience for our on-campus residents. THANK YOU for all you do, RAs! This post features the amazing staff in West Campus.

(Felts, Kellogg, & Warren) Staff,
I cannot tell you proud I am to work alongside you this year as you helped students from near and far create a new home. As I look back on this year and reflect I see so many small opportunities that you took to tell a student that you cared them and that you were there for them. Thank you. I was utterly shocked in a good way with the maturity, level of awareness, and understanding you displayed in conversations with, and about our students. When life got crazy with projects, events, and life (as you are full-time college students) I could still trust you to follow through and keep the important things in mind. When the makeup of our team changed you rolled with the punches and trained new staff without missing a beat. You all are the hardest working undergraduates I know of, and it is hard to put into words the difference you have made in the halls and the department as a whole. Thank you so much for all that you do! - Brandon

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Abbott, Brown, Smith, and Steagall. 4 different buildings, each with their own personalities, niches, and quirks. Each of them has different Living Learning Communities (LLCs) that creates a solid community amongst their floors. Together, they come to form our wonderful staff; the 12 RAs that live in each of those buildings take on the same qualities of their respective buildings but are also unique: they represent West Campus.

It has been a pleasure watching our staff grow over the year. They have built relationships amongst the co-RAs in their building, their duty partners, and other RAs from across West Campus. Visually, it is everywhere in our area: in the dining hall as they sit with each other, keeping a fellow RA company while the other is on duty, and during our always-lively staff meetings. They are more than an RA staff: they are a family.

Our staff has had some very difficult things that they have had to deal with. It could have been very easy for many of our staff members to stop giving 100% to their work because of these difficult times. However, in good times and in bad, our staff members always have come back to one question: how can we help? Because of this level of dedication, our staff has continued to triumph over each of these moments. We could not be more proud of them.

Jon and I are so thankful for each of you! You all have done fantastic work that makes both of us very proud. Best of luck to all of you in your future endeavor!

Much Love, Travis & Jon

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The Bailey, Baldwin, Bowyer and Pierce staff has worked hard dealing with student issues, but also creating meaningful events to get their residents out of their rooms and socializing. They have put on different events from a risky business educational series to touring campus to show students their classes. Recently some Bailey Gentlemen were working on some cardboard boats to race this Saturday, and preparing teams for the Olympics by holding try outs. Baldwin has held some discussions, and had some great floor decorating events. The residents really take pride in making the floor their own. Bowyer has enjoyed karaoke and dinner discussions on life. Pierce has been active with game nights and movie nights, and just socializing on the floors. Every building worked hard to get their residents involved within the SIU community, and it shows when the groups are together in the dining center or out at campus events.

The group knows how to work hard in and out of the classroom especially in their positions. This close-knit group can always be found in the dining center eating together, going to the rec center together, or taking their residents to events on campus. I could not be more proud of the hard working, loyal group of staff. This is your week to celebrate all you have accomplished, so thank you for all your hard work.

Jess & Tristen

My First Week by Travis Tucker

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 Travis T. Tucker. Travis began working at SIU on July 1, 2013, and is one of three Hall Directors in West Campus. Travis recently completed a Master's degree at Miami University, and his undergraduate work was done at the University of Akron.

My First Week

As I spent my Friday evening packing up my belongings in preparation for the move from my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio to Carbondale, I thought about the amazing journey that I was about to begin. And it was not just in relation to the 8.5 hour drive that I had in store the next day! Much of my last 6 months of grad school had been devoted to the much talked about job search; endless hours researching, prepping, and of course interviewing for positions. Throughout that time, I was looking for a place that would provide me the space I needed to grow and provide the day to day challenges that would make me a better practitioner. I also wanted a place that spoke to my passion areas of social justice and student development theory, as I see both to be crucial to my work with students. From my first interview with SIU at The PlacementExchange (TPE) and now through my first week on the job, I have seen these same values espoused in their professionals and so much more.  I am excited to work with a group of caring, compassionate, funny, and engaged co-workers. They have helped take many of those jitters that come with starting something new and have replaced them with the comfort that I made the right choice. Everyone that I have met, whether they are from our Residence Life staff, University Housing, or from the Carbondale community at large, has visible allegiance to SIU and their beloved Salukis. It is hard not to catch it yourself! As I move to my second week and beyond, I look forward to the rest of our time in training, but also meeting and building my relationships with my graduate student and RA staff. The sky is truly the limit and I look forward to a great future. Go Salukis!

S'more Time with the Faculty/University Associates!

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.

In University Housing, our mission is to "...provide a high-quality, affordable living/learning environment that contributes to personal development and academic success." One way we contribute to the living/learning environment is by inviting faculty and staff members from across campus to get involved in our residence halls through the Faculty/University Associate (F/UA) program. F/UAs are volunteer members of the SIU Carbondale community who commit to spending time in University Housing, interacting with our residents. Each F/UA is different and so is each community, so there are no set expectations. We like the F/UAs to be able to work with the Residence Life staff in their community to find the best fit for them.

Last night we held "S'more Time with the F/UAs" programs in Mae Smith, Schneider, and West Campus. F/UAs were invited to come out, make s'mores, and hang out with the residents. We had a great turnout at all three events and want to extend a huge THANK YOU to the faculty and staff who participated.

Residence Life staff and students chat with Mae Smith F/UAs from the School of Architecture and New Student Programs.











Residence Life staff and students at the Mae Smith S'mores event

Beautiful lakeside s'mores event for West Campus residents and their Faculty/University Associates

Students, faculty, and staff mingle outside Schneider Hall during their s'mores event.

Student Leader Spotlight - ShaKyla McBee

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 profile is with ShaKyla McBee, West Campus resident and Vice President of Area Council.

1. What’s your name? ShaKyla McBee
2. Where are you from? I am from Memphis,TN.
3. What’s your major? My major is Physiology/Pre-Med with a double minor in Chemistry and Africana Studies.
4. What is your favorite part of being involved in the residence halls? My favorite part about being involved in the residence halls is the fact that I am able to meet so many people and connect with people from all walks of life.
5. Where is your favorite program / event you have worked with while being involved? My favorite event that I have worked with thus far would have to be helping with Open Mic Night in Thompson Point. It was a huge success and I look forward to helping host many more in the future.
6. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I see myself having graduated from Emory University School of Medicine and established a living in Atlanta, GA working at Grady Memorial Hospital as an anesthesiologist. I also hope to have implemented yearly medical mission trips to Africa at Emory University School of Medicine.
7. What is your favorite memory, thus far, from being involved on campus? My favorite memory would have to be from helping with Dawgs Nite Out. I was a volunteer a few times and I truly enjoyed being able to help with the caricature stand and Just Dance stations for about an hour and a half. Once my shift was over, I was able to go and enjoy the night with fellow Salukis at the Student Center.
8. Favorite quote? My favorite quote is, "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."- Franklin D. Roosevelt.
9. Best study spot on campus? The best study spot on campus is definitely the Big Muddy Room in the Student Center down by the craft center. It's very quiet and has a cozy vibe. I always get a ton of work done whenever I go there to study.
10. How else are you involved at SIU (besides being involved within Residence Life)? I am involved in many organizations but I will shine a light on a few of them. I am a member of the University Honors Program, a Saluki Science Ambassador, a Saluki Ambassador (Tour Guide), as well as a member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.