AlumniTestimonials

You have a lot to contribute...
“The Department of Housing and Residential Education at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill is a phenomenal place
to work. It has a challenging yet very supportive learning culture that values staff as highly as it values the students we serve.
Every day is a growing experience. Every day is an opportunity.
Over the years, many have directed their career path through UNC Chapel Hill. Some settled in Student Affairs, others moved
on to other careers and endeavors. All have taken with them a bit of experience, expertise, knowledge, and insight that
helped them along the way. Here is just a sample of some of these experiences.”- Larry Hicks, Director
ALLAN CALARCO, GLOBAL
SOLUTIONS FACULTY, CENTER
FOR CREATIVE LEADERSHIP
area director, assistant director,
associate director 1980 - 2000
I currently work all over the world in
providing training and development
to profit and non=profit groups. In
housing I had the real opportunity to
hone my training and development
skill set. I think the skills are a
valuable asset in my current client
work.
VERNON A. WALL, DIRECTOR OF
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR
LEADERSHAPE, INC.
area director 1985 - 1987
DHRE is a solid housing department
where I honed my supervisory
management skills. I worked with
wonderful colleagues, and I developed
some of my first presentations on
working with hall governments while
working there.
SHARON MCMILLEN CANNON,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION,
UNC KENAN-FLAGLER BUSINESS
SCHOOL
My strengths in managing, writing,
and presenting drew me to this final
career destination, which I love.
Understanding what students are like
outside of the classroom helps me
better relate to them in the classroom.
JEFF CANON, ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR, AACSB LEARNING
INITIATIVE, UNC KENAN-
FLAGLER BUSINESS SCHOOL
When I moved from Student Affairs
to Academic Affairs, I brought with
me Student Development practices
learned and applied during my
work in Housing and Residential
Education... My prior background
in housing and judicial programs
opened many doors for professional
relationships with the Student Affairs
team. In short, my work in housing
shaped (and continues to shape) my
philosophy and approaches as an
academic affairs administrator.
JIM ULLMAN, APPLESEED
CONSULTING, ORGANIZATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
area director, assistant director
1991 - 1999
Housing and Residential Education
is where I learned to make use of my
natural inclination to look at human
systems and dynamics. It was an
ideal laboratory and launch pad for
everything I do now.
WAYNE THOMPSON, SENIOR
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, STUDENT
INFORMATION SERVICES &
SYSTEMS, DUKE UNIVERSITY
area director, assistant director
1991 - 2000
I learned so much that I use today.
Learned to work with, collaborate
with, and build teams with so many
different types of people, conflict
resolutions, public speaking, training,
mentoring, leading meetings,
and project management. Most
importantly though I think I learned
what it was like to really like what I
did every day and to love the people I
worked with.
MIKE ZEINSTRA, HR PROGRAMS
MANAGER, N.C. DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
I learned how to supervise/coach, how
to manage projects, how to prioritize,
how to work with difficult people, and
how to set a work-life balance.

JOHN MENDOZA BRODEUR,
DIRECTOR OF CAROLINA
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT &
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE
CAROLINA UNION, UNIVERSITY
OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL
HILL
My position in Upper Quad helped me
familiarize myself with the general
and impressive quality of Carolina
student, which in turn prepared me
for the transition into leadership
education.
SETH LEIBOWITZ, ASSISTANT
VICE-PROVOST, DIVISION OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
UNIVERSITY
Starting out, I had zero contacts and
friends in North Carolina, but that
quickly changed. I absolutely loved
every second of my experience at
UNC. I found a great community in
that there were sixteen other area
directors in the same boat as me and
Chapel Hill had a huge community
of young and new professionals with
which to network.
BILL GESHWIND, U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
FOREIGN SERVICE INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
technical assistance manager
1998 - 2005
Working at UNC gave me the
opportunity for tremendous personal
and professional growth in IT skills,
managing technical people and
supporting end users, and gave me
the opportunity to earn a number of
IT certifications, all of which were
invaluable in my successful pursuit of
an IT job in the Foreign Service.
LYNN ELLISON, DIRECTOR OF
RESIDENCE LIFE, AMERICAN
CAMPUS COMMUNITIES
Managing a large residence hall
certainly helped me develop my
administrative skills. There were lots
of moving pieces to keep track of. I
also learned (or really, confirmed) the
importance of getting to know your
residents.
CHRIS MOODY, ASSISTANT VICE
PRESIDENT OF CAMPUS LIFE,
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
community director 1999 - 2003
My experience at UNC gave me
essential skills in working in a
a centralized system with local
authority. I was afforded the latitude
to make meaningful and significant
decisions, while being supported by a
larger set of philosophies, policies and
professionals.
DAVID JONES, VICE PRESIDENT
FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS AND
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT,
MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
assistant director 2000 - 2005
UNC taught me how a team
should really work. It provided an
environment for me to interact with
colleagues across many areas of
the University, develop programs
to increase student success, and
refine my own professional skills to
the betterment of the department.
Everyone should want to be a part of
the Carolina Blue.
SANTINA PITCHER, CAREER
COUNSELOR/INTERIM ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA AT BERKLEY
While working in DHRE I gained
a stronger understanding and
appreciation for supervising people
with different backgrounds and
motivations.
PETE TRENTACOSTE, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL
HOUSING, OHIO UNIVERSITY
When I attended project design
meetings in my second year, I
understood only about 1/10 words
spoken by the architects. Flash
forward 11 years and I’m at the head
of the table for a $110 million, 900
bed new construction project. It’s
amazing how one small experience
can be the springboard for many new
and exciting opportunities later in
your career!
JONATHAN ZERULIK, CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER, CHILD
WELFARE COLLABORATIVE
I gained experience in being a
professional. I was given incredible
autonomy for a new professional, and
that was instrumental in me learning
how to lead an organization, which I
do now.
STEVE WOOD, COMMUNITY
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
SPECIALIST, CITY OF CHARLOTTE,
N.C.
The CD position allowed me to gain
confidence in myself by challenging
me with new and increased
responsibilities. I learned how to
balance institutional culture with
individual goals, how to craft my
messages to each audience to be
the most effective, how to balance
multiple priorities and how to
effectively produce quality work.

DEI ALLARD, ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR, HOUSING &
RESIDENCE LIFE, UNIVERSITY OF
NORTH FLORIDA
In my various roles at DHRE, I
developed my fiscal management
and budget skills, gained knowledge
of facilities management, honed my
training and selection expertise, and
my expertise in recruitment. All of
this, while working with excellent
housing professionals from various
disciplines.
STEPHEN LUBER, MANAGER,
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING,
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
area director, assitant director,
associate director 1980 - 2000
As a young professional moving from
the Midwest, UNC Chapel Hill offered
me the opportunity of experiences in
management and logistical operation
fields in Housing and Residential Life.
DEMITRIUS BROWN, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF HOUSING &
RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION,
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
I learned so much at Carolina. It’s
hard to really quantify. I’ll begin with
undertanding student involvement,
the importance of budget and
finance, patience, crisis management,
planning, people first, and doing your
part. It was an amazing experience.
ERIC SMITH, DIRECTOR OF
HEALTH PROMOTION & WELLNESS
SERVICES, AUBURN UNIVERSITY
Nothing prepares you better for
any role in student affairs than a
community director/area director
role. It’s the proving ground, a place
to cut your teeth, and a place to take
on any role. In interviews, meetings,
and other professional settings, I
frequently refer back to an experience
I learned while on the job as a member
of DHRE at UNC.
SCOTT IVERSON, DIRECTOR
OF HOUSING & RESIDENTIAL
EDUCATION, PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AT CALUMET
I am pleased to say that this is
where I learned how to be a true
professional. I learned to take
ownership for my decisions. I learned
how to work with a wide variety of
different people. I really felt I grew in
my multicultural awareness and my
own multicultural competence.
JENNIE OFSTEIN, RESEARCH
ETHICS, INSTITUTIONAL
RESEARCH BOARD, NORTH
CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
I had a lot of opportunity to work
with assessment, conduct, crisis,
curriculum development, and varying
social justice activities. My work
directly influences my own studies,
areas for my own research, and when
I teach courses.
ROBERT BARKER, ASSISTANT
DEAN OF STUDENTS, UNIVERSITY
OF NORTH CAROLINA AT
GREENSBORO
One of the many things I gained
through working in the department
was the understanding of the
importance of being immersed in
your community. It does not matter
if that community is your residence
hall, your staff, your committee work,
your advising or supervising roles,
or whatever facet of the University in
which you are managing, supporting,
or overseeing. And that is what they
do at Carolina.
JUSTIN LUKASEWICZ, ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF
ARIZONA
UNC allowed me to follow my specific
passions in residence life which were
advising and social justice. I was able
to fully delve into these other areas
and gain leadership opportunities to
complement my CD role. I learned at
UNC how to be a problem solver, and
to think in solutions.
RENEE KASHAWLIC, ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER OF
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, GEORGE
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The Community Director position at
UNC was an incredible stepping stone
- no, more than that - launching point
to my career.
ANDY PETTERS, ASSISTANT DEAN
OF STUDENTS, UNIVERSITY OF
VIRGINIA
I learned you can place great trust
in the hands of students. I created
a true partnership with the student
staff. We were a great team. At UVA, I
try to replicate the team atmosphere
in my staff that I had at UNC.

... we have a lot to offer.
JOSH CONWAY, AREA
COORDINATOR FOR INTEGRATED
LEARNING COMMUNITIES,
FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
The complete autonomy to develop
a Living-Learning Curriculum (and
resources to allow me to present
at a national conference on that
curriculum) was huge for my
professional development.
KIMBERLEE NELSON, ACADEMIC
ADVISOR, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH
CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
I gained the ability to navigate
organizational politics, budget
management, and crisis management.
You never know what exactly is
going to walk through the door, and
you have to navigate that situation
seamlessly with each student.
BRET BIANCE, ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR OF HOUSING &
RESIDENCE LIFE, UNIVERSITY
OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
They say “steel hardens steel” and
the commitment to excellence
by my peers pushed me to grow
personally and professionaly. There
is a tremendous amount of talent
throughout the department and each
person is willing to help you develop.
The sheer number of opportunities
within the CD role is probably one
of the most comprehensive in the
country. Additionally, there are
tremendous opportunities to seek
out your passions and find a niche to
expand your skill set if housing is or
isn’t in your future.
TARIS MULLIN, RESIDENCE
HALL DIRECTOR, RESIDENTIAL
COLLEGE PROGRAM, NEW YORK
UNIVERSITY
Undoubtedly this was the best
experience I needed professionally
and I am so thankful for every
day I spent! From learning about
assessment and creating learning
outcomes, to empowering the
student voice in the development
of community, to immersing myself
in the students I work with, to
actualizing inclusion in our daily
practice. I cannot speak more highly
of my experience at Carolina and I
hope this provides a glimpse, albeit
brief, into how thankful I am for my
time there.
visit us at housing.unc.edu to learn more.
MICHELLE TADAYON,
INVESTIGATION ANALYST
office manager, housing facilities
inventory control 2003 - 2006
I gained management skills and more
intensive people skills which helps me
in my current career.
KALA BULLET, ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR FOR WEST CAMPUS,
UNIVERSITY HOUSING
DEPARTMENT, NORTH CAROLINA
STATE UNIVERSITY
I grew from an entry level housing
professional to a true manager of
residential life operations under the
leadership at Carolia. I was developed
in every way professionally and
always had mentors who challenged
and encouraged me. I will always call
Carolina home!
JERRID P. FREEMAN, ASSISTANT
VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT
AFFAIRS, NORTHEASTERN STATE
UNIVERSITY
I gained a perspective of what it
means to be a part of something
bigger than you and your role! I
gained colleagues and friends that I
still have today. And I learned what
it takes to be successful in higher
education!

AlumniTestimonials

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to AlumniTestimonials

Similar to AlumniTestimonials (20)

AlumniTestimonials