Roompact's ResEdChat is a variety show of presentations, interviews, and webinars on issues of importance to college and university residence life professionals. Learn about new trends in the field of residential education, innovations in student housing, and hear from some of the experts in our field. Join the conversation at #ResEdChat.
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In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, we explore one of the most meaningful parts of being an RA with Iyanna Williams and her experience on this topic: becoming a trusted support person for residents. Beyond programs and policy enforcement, RAs are often the first people residents turn to during moments of stress, conflict, loneliness, homesickness, or personal challenges. This conversation focuses on how RAs can navigate vulnerable conversations with empathy, professionalism, and care while also understanding their role, boundaries, and available campus resources.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join Noah and Taylor Hogan as they talk about joy. Being in a caring field can take its toll. Residence Life staff are often requested to do more with less all while living where we work and being constantly surrounded by the work itself. Thus, it becomes crucial to find the joy to make the work and being people in the work sustainable. Join Noah and Taylor as they talk about finding joy, tell stories, and provide advice to Residence Life staff.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Crystal connects with Demarcus Merritt, Sr., Assistant Director of Residence Life at George Mason University, on how burnout and the expectation to "push through" have become normalized within housing and residence life. Through a thoughtful conversation on supervision, wellness, move-in culture, and professional sustainability, Demarcus challenges us to rethink...... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, host Paul sits down with a member of the Roompact Blog Cohort, Matthew Inman, to discuss a wide range of topics from focusing on students' socio emotional learning to Pizza Hut (yes, Pizza Hut). As a recently graduated Masters degree student from Clemson University, Matthew also reflects on lessons...... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, we discuss the unique challenge that comes with the RA and student staff role: balancing being a community leader while still being a college student yourself. From navigating friendships with residents, to handling uncomfortable social situations, and from maintaining professional boundaries, to protecting your own well-being in the student staff role. Whether you’re struggling with saying “no,” figuring out how close is too close, or trying to maintain a healthy social life while on staff, this episode offers honest advice and practical strategies for m
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join our host Noah Montague and guest Siobhàn Anderson-Judkins as they talk about student staff supervision. Student staff, RAs, or whatever other acronym your institution uses are all coming into the role for different reasons; so how can we best supervise them? How do we hold them accountable while also being...... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Crystal sits down with Sarah Leahy, Associate Director of Campus Life for Residence Life and Housing at Dickinson College to discuss breaking unhealthy professional norms, creating more human-centered work environments, establishing healthy boundaries, and helping emerging professionals build confidence, self-advocacy skills, and sustainable approaches to leadership.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, host Paul sits down with Roompact Fellow Natasha Monteith to discuss simple actions departments, supervisors, and administrators can take to get better at operationalizing the use of assessment data. This includes collecting the "correct" data, while balancing staff time and effort, and integrating it in to daily practice.
In this episode of Roompact's RA*EdChat, we go behind the scenes of residence life to explore how strong staff relationships shape the RA experience. “Behind the Scenes: Working With Your Team” dives into collaboration, communication, and peer support, highlighting how successful communities are built not just through resident connections but through trust and teamwork among staff members. We meet with Katelyn Neeley, a community director who shares knowledge and personal experience on the topic, as well as advice for RAs.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join our host Noah Montague and guest DJ Harris-Sumrall as they talk about the job search. Whether you love it or hate it, the sometimes dreaded job search is a part of every Residence Life Professional's story but what does it really look like? In the changing landscape of higher education, how people job search and how people experience interviewing is changing as well. Listen as Noah and DJ tell stories, discuss interview prep and give advice, and also think about how to center the self in the job search as well.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Crystal sits down with Taj Julien, Residence Hall Director at the University of Connecticut, to discuss entering housing and residence life from a nontraditional pathway. Taj shares how their identity, previous experiences, and support from supervisors have shaped their professional journey, and why different perspectives make our field stronger.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, host Paul sits down with Roompact Fellow, Erin Simpson, to discuss how residence life departments can find a secure footing when external forces can make it feel like they're being asked to make hard pivot. Paul and Erin also discuss how departments can find solutions that borrow from others while contextualizing them to the unique needs of their students.
Door decorations and bulletin boards are more than check-the-box tasks; they are often the first impression residents have of their community. In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat,, we sit down with a Nikki Garcia to explore how RAs can create intentional, engaging, and meaningful visuals that go beyond aesthetics. From planning timelines to interactive strategies,...... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join our host Noah Montague and guest, Dr. April Callis, as they talk about strategies for supporting trans and nonbinary students living in residence halls. Trans and nonbinary students are a population often overlooked at universities; how are Residence Life staff uniquely situated to be able to provide that often missing support? Where a student lives while on campus matters; listen as Noah and April discuss strategies, tell stories, and share student experience for Residence Life Staff navigating systems in place and working to make them more inclus
In this episode of ResEdChat, Crystal sits down with Desmond Thomas, Meeting Logistics Coordinator for AME Church, to explore what it’s like to enter housing and residence life from another profession. Desmond reflects on what drew him to the field, the skills that carried over, and how his prior experience shaped his approach to the work.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Host Paul Brown sits down with 2026 Roompact Fellow, Amanda Knerr to talk about assessment in residence life. Assessment can be scary. It can be difficult. But it doesn't have to be. Amanda and Paul talk about tangible and tangible steps departments can take to make assessment infused in all departmental practices from formative to summative.
This episode of RA*Chat features insights from Tim Turner, offering advice to help RAs navigate move-out with confidence and care. From handling damage-related conversations and conducting thorough room checks to managing residents' emotions, Tim emphasizes the importance of clear communication, accomplishments, and getting support from peers and supervisors. He also shares strategies for managing stress during this busy season while still creating a positive and supportive closing experience for residents.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join our host Noah Montague and guest, Emily Abrams, Assistant Director of Dow STEM Scholars at Michigan State University, as they talk about crip theory and its implications for Residence Life Staff and for the halls themselves. Student Development Theories give us language through which to understand and implement our work and crip theory is no different, especially for Residence Life Staff. What does it mean for students and staff to be working in inaccessible residence halls? What does it look like for staff to put this theory into practice? In this
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, we welcome Dr. Shirley O'Brien, Foundation Professor for the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at EKU. This episode explores the collaborative partnership between the Occupational Therapy and Housing & Residence Life department to develop and implement the Colonels Mentoring Colonels Peer Mentor Program, an initiative to support residential and commuter students who identify as neurodiverse.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Crystal sits down with Aaron Lucier, Interim Director of Housing & Residential Life at the University of South Carolina Upstate. Aaron reflects on what mattered most, how the field has evolved, and the lessons learned along the way. From leadership and identity to the moments that sustained them, this conversation offers insight and guidance for the next generation of housing professionals.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Host Paul sits down with one of our 2026 Roompact Fellows, Kaleigh Mrowka, to discuss student learning and curriculum, restorative practices, and encouraging campus dialogue. An interesting through-line develops which can give residence hall professionals multiple strategies and elements to incorporate in their work of making meaningful spaces for resident students. (Ledo's Pizza and a kitten also make an appearance.)
In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, join Da Zhane’ Sinclair for advice when everything goes wrong in the middle of the night, and how you respond. This episode dives into the high-pressure reality of on-call life, unpacking how to make quick, confident, and policy-aligned decisions when it matters most for students! From managing emergencies to navigating resident conflict, we explore strategies to stay calm, think clearly, and lead effectively even at 2 AM.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join our host Noah Montague and guest Pamela Ianiro, Area Coordinator at the University of Cincinnati, as they talk about and explore residence life traditions. From door decs to behind closed doors, Residence Life professionals around the country engage with traditions, but where do these traditions really come from? What was their purpose originally? What is it now? How do these traditions guide our work? In this episode, Pamela and Noah explore these traditions and examine the impact the serve now while telling stories and also providing advice for s
In this special episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, we have a rebroadcast from one of our more recent webinars. We started our monthly webinar series back in October of 2025 and if you are a Roompact member, you can participate in these live. For non-Roompact members, we make the recording available after the fact on our website. In this webinar we’ll go over the 3C Framework for Residence Life Practice. It takes from all of the models to help you distill down what’s important for your residents and what’s on campus. As a framework, it’s flexible and draws from best practices across the field.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Crystal sits down with Ryan Taylor-Gonzalez, Assistant Director of Learning and Assessment at CSU Monterey Bay, to talk about the transition from hall director to mid-level leader in housing. Ryan reflects on the growth, identity shifts, and leadership lessons that come with stepping into broader responsibility.
