Resident Assistant Spotlight - Alaina Howard

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.

RA Spotlight - Alaina Howard from Warren Hall

What’s your name?
          Alaina Howard

Where are you from?
          Palatine, IL

What’s your major?
          Double major in Fashion Design and Merchandising with a minor in Marketing

Where is the best place to study on campus?
          I like to study in my floor's hallway or in my room.

What is your favorite book?
          Vogue September issue

What is your favorite food in the dining halls?
          It is a tie between their vegan steak fajitas or the veggie tacos.

What is your favorite local restaurant?
          Longbranch! They have the best homemade whipped cream.

Why did you become an RA?
          I like helping others, and I like being someone people can turn to for help.

What is your dream job?
          Either a costume designer for Hollywood movies or a buyer for a major company.

Best advice you would give to a new student on campus?
          Keep up on your studies and take as many credits now as you can to let your senior year 

          glide by.

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

Resident Assistant Spotlight - Sara Smith

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We are currently accepting applications for Resident Assistants for the spring 2015 semester. More details, along with the application, can be found on our website. Information sessions about the RA position will be held

     Tuesday, 09/16 7pm Lentz Dining Room #5
     Wednesday, 09/17 7pm University Hall
     Thursday, 09/17 7pm Neely Hall and Lentz Dining Room #5

RA Spotlight - Sara Smith of Mae Smith Hall

What’s your name? Sara Smith

Where are you from? Glendale, CA (a suburb of Los Angeles) / Nashville, TN

What’s your major? Marketing

Where is the best place to study on campus? Any empty open classrooms around campus or the library

What is your favorite book? Welcome to the Dark House​ by Laurie Faria Stolarz

What is your favorite food in the dining halls? The Monte Cristos from Lentz or mac and cheese

What is your favorite local restaurant? I love going to Cristaudo's

Why did you become an RA? I became an RA because I wanted to help make students feel more welcome and comfortable in the residence halls. I am a transfer, so I went through the whole transition to college thing twice, and I wanted to help make the transition easier for other students as well as just be able to be there for anyone who needed my help.

What is your dream job? I would love to work for the marketing and sales team for the Los Angeles Kings or really any NHL team.

Best advice you would give to a new student on campus? Don't be afraid to ask questions, and definitely, if you don't understand something, go to your professor's office hours. They're there to help you!

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

Resident Assistant Spotlight - Blake Bussie

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We are currently accepting applications for Resident Assistants for the spring 2015 semester. More details, along with the application, can be found on our website. Information sessions about the RA position will be held

     Sunday, 09/14 7pm Schneider Hall
     Monday, 09/15 7pm Wall & Grand Building I
     Tuesday, 09/16 7pm Lentz Dining Room #5
     Wednesday, 09/17 7pm University Hall
     Thursday, 09/17 7pm Neely Hall and Lentz Dining Room #5

RA Spotlight: Blake Bussie of Brown Hall

What’s your name? Blake Douglas Bussie

Where are you from? I'm from Reisterstown, Maryland right outside of Baltimore

What’s your major? Marketing

Where is the best place to study on campus? The best place to study is for sure the new 6th and 7th floors of the library.

What is your favorite book? THE GREAT GATSBY

What is your favorite food in the dining halls? Quesadilla night for sure

What is your favorite local restaurant? I'm obsessed with Quatro's

Why did you become an RA? I became an RA because my RA my sophomore year was my best friend and she encouraged me to be one since she thought I would be perfect for it, so I went for it!

What is your dream job? My dream job is to be a recording artist and performer...like Beyoncé

Best advice you would give to a new student on campus? Best advice I can give is to open your world and experience what SIU has to offer you because there is so much to get involved in. Only you can control your experience at college, so make it great!

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

Meet the RAs! - Alaina Howard

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 Alaina Howard, RA in Warren Hall!

What’s your name? Alaina Howard

Where are you from? Palatine, Illinois

What’s your major? Double major in Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Marketing

What is the best program or event you’ve been to on campus? Tea time in Kellogg Hall!!!

What was the last book you read for fun? Vogue's September issue (it is longer that most books) 

What is your favorite thing about being an RA? Being able to guide the incoming students into college life 

How else are you involved at SIU (in addition to being an RA)? I am the current president of the College of Applied Science and Arts Ambassadors and active member and old president of the Fashion Design and Merchandising Association

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years I will hopefully be in a high position at a fashion company or under a designer house. 

What is your favorite quote?I have two! “I don’t do fashion. I AM fashion.”—Coco Chanel and "Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”—Yves Saint Laurent

What do you do to unwind when you’re feeling stressed? I like to close my eyes while listening to some calming classical music.

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

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)