October is Careers in Student Affairs Month! To celebrate, the Office of Student Life is highlighting staff members from different teams and departments. Learn more about each staff member and their Student Life journey by reading the spotlights below.
Samantha Reitz
Collegiate Recovery Community
Samantha Reitz is the Collegiate Recovery Coordinator for the Collegiate Recovery Community. Samantha has worked at IU since 2021 and in the Student Life field for 5 years.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?
“My favorite part of working in Student Life is being able to host and work on a variety of events that are about being healthy while still having fun. Two of those events that stick out in my mind are ‘Come and Get Your Pot’ and ‘Sex, Drugs, Rock n Roll.’ Both of those events are very informative and also incredibly fun to be at. It’s so fun to see how excited students get when they get a free plant.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Life?
“I recommend those interested in working in the field of Student Life to keep their minds open and to remain teachable. This field is one that is ever-changing despite things sometimes moving at a slow pace. Being open to new ideas, perspectives, ways of thinking, etc. is crucial to being successful long-term in this field.”
Jocelyn Maul
Housing Operations and Assignments
Jocelyn is the Director of Housing Operations and Assignments. Jocelyn has worked at IU and in the Student Life field for 15 years.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?
“One of my favorite moments of working with students came early in my career. I had helped mediate a roommate disagreement as the women weren’t quite seeing eye to eye. You could tell one was clearly trying to make it work, while the other was being a bit more stubborn. After many failed negotiations and involving the resident assistant, we decided that moving the students was for the best. The student who was agreeable and trying to make things work was the one willing to move. We got her a new assignment and were able to keep her in the same building where she was connected to her community. A few weeks later, I was wandering around the mall and I heard, ‘Mom, come here!’ I saw the student I helped out of the corner of my eye. The student drug her Mom across Old Navy introduced her to me and told her how much I had helped her throughout a difficult roommate process. She said she was thriving and liked her new roommate much better and thanked me for my time working with her. The parent was a bit caught off guard, but excited to meet me, and I shook their hand and said I was happy to help.
To add a second moment, I had a student who I hired as an RA for her sophomore year. She was an RA for me for three years in McNutt. As she was applying to graduate schools, and was looking at an assistantship in Recreational Sports, I was honored to serve as a reference for her. When speaking to the staff member completing the reference check, I said the most rewarding thing about working with the student was seeing her grow from a freshman and newly hired RA, into a graduating senior, who was ready to supervise, manage people and processes, and continue to work with students. I had seen this RA go through challenging floors and conduct-related incidents to end with her being a leader on staff. I was so proud of who she had become and I’ve been able to stay in contact with her for the last 10 years. I know I had an impact on her experience as a professional woman, but also in Student Affairs fields.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Life?
“I found Student Affairs and Student Life work early on in my college career. I was an involved student leader in the Residence Hall Association and made connections with my Hall Director early on. I remember asking, ‘How did you get to be doing this work?’ The simple question opened up a door of opportunities for me and changed the course of my life. I know many folks have had wandering paths that have led them to careers in Student Life, and I encourage folks to find the path that works best for them. I mentioned being involved in student leadership and finding student housing in that way, but housing experience is so transferable to other areas within Student Life and others outside of it. I found Student Affairs as an 18-year-old, but your career path may take different directions. It’s never too late to find your work with college students and within university administration later on in life. This career can be rewarding and exhausting on the same day and part of that excitement and unpredictability is what keeps me here. I have yet to have a ‘normal year’ and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Is there anything else about working in this field that you would like to share with others?
“Working in Student Life, I like to find ways to connect with students in less warm, fuzzy ways. Many folks are always willing to hop in and get experiences in a fun way. This might be advising a student club, helping plan a large program or concert, or working on an awards committee. But in my time in Student Life, many of the most rewarding experiences have been when students are at their lowest. I’m consistently reminded of the challenges our students face such as acclimating to new cultures, advocating for themselves, navigating interpersonal relationships, and knowing how they fit in a large bureaucratic organization.
I’ve been in Student Affairs for a long time, and I don’t think my family ever understood my work. My parents were visiting me one spring, and I had to follow up with a student who was sexually assaulted to ensure that she felt comfortable staying in her current residence hall. I was hanging out with my dad, but knew the student got out of class soon and I wanted to catch her before the weekend. I explained to my dad that I had to follow up with a student incident and would be back soon, and when I came back, he was looking at me differently. He said to me, ‘Jocelyn, I don’t think I realized you did those sorts of things in your work.’ He knew about the RA supervising, pizza parties, and the programs, but not the crisis response and follow-up that become a large part of what we do. As a retired high school teacher, he understood some challenges working with that age group but hadn’t seen me do the work. This interaction shaped the rest of our visit as we talked about challenging pieces he dealt with as a teacher that were very similar to ones I had dealt with in my career. I say this all in trying to help folks understand that what we do has highs and lows, and you can make an impact in all stages of a student’s experience. Don’t be afraid to be with students in the shadows as they work through the difficult times and know that we might not have the sunshine, but we can help get them there.”
McKenna Myers
Student Involvement and Leadership Center
McKenna is the Student Organizations Coordinator for the Student Involvement and Leadership Center. McKenna has worked at IU for 3 months and in the Student Life field for 3 years.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?
“When I started my graduate program, I found an assistantship that enabled me to combine my passion for community engagement with my desire to support and connect with students. Every week we would facilitate opportunities for students to participate in community service or civic experiences. While it was heartwarming to see students from across campus engage in the community surrounding our institution, it was the relationships I formed with my small team of student leaders who truly inspired me. After having the opportunity to design and implement a service project of her own, one of my students came to me to talk about her experience with the work she was doing for the center and what she was studying in her classes. She ended up asking questions about the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps (my assistantship was actually an AmeriCorps position) and completely changed the trajectory of what she planned to do after graduation. She decided she wanted to take a few years off to give back to the community and explore the country. She ended up applying to join AmeriCorps and asked me to serve as a reference. I was absolutely touched and happy to see her take what she was learning as a Recreational Management major to her AmeriCorps position with a national park. While it was ultimately her decision to pursue AmeriCorps, I felt honored that she trusted me enough to talk it over with me. With every student who seeks me out for advice on finding opportunities to grow or support as they take their next steps toward their future, I am reminded why I enjoy working in Student Affairs.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Life?
“Being in Student Affairs, a lot is expected of you and, more often than not, you have to juggle many responsibilities. We are advisors and mentors, educators and speakers, and event and program planners, but we cannot do it all at once or all alone. If you want a job where your work is completely autonomous, then the Student Life field may not be for you. In my short time as a professional, I have continuously sought out others to ideate with and collaborate on countless programs. Moreover, I have learned the importance of knowing yourself and setting boundaries where necessary—some days I will have back-to-back meetings with students, and others I will block time so that I can work on a project or catch up on my emails. In either case, I have found it is important to also make time for yourself by scheduling a lunch break or planning for opportunities to step away from your desk on occasion.”
Ben Foster
Bradford Woods
Ben is the Assistant Director of Adventure Education and Student Outreach for Bradford Woods. Ben has worked at IU and in the Student Affairs field for over 3 years.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?
“I oversee a small team of instructors, and I always enjoy hearing their stories about how the students they work with can make such incredible connections to new ideas and experiences. It truly embodies the idea of outdoor education. It’s more than just learning about nature or the environment. It is learning of any kind that takes place THROUGH the outdoors.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Life?
“My mentor once said, ‘I’ll stop learning when I’m dead!’ Be open to learning and growing—not just about new ideas, experiences, and other people or places, but about YOURSELF as well.”
Katie Shepherd
Student Wellness
Katie is a Registered Dietitian and Assistant Director for Nutrition Programming and Outreach. Katie has worked at IU and in the Student Life field for 12 years.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?
“At a cooking demonstration, one of the participants came up to me and shared that they did not have access to fruits and vegetables growing up, and therefore didn’t know where to start with incorporating them into their eating plan. My program increased their self-efficacy in being able to prepare a healthy dish and enjoy healthy foods that were new to them! That really warmed my heart and is at the essence of what I try to do each and every day.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Life?
“If you have a passion for serving and helping others, Student Life is a great place. I feel rewarded each day by knowing I am making a positive impact on the lives of our students.”
Is there anything else about working in this field that you would like to share with others?
“I am proud of the creative programming I have spear-headed in my role with Student Life! We have collaborated with Crimson Cupboard on creating a meal kit initiative called ‘Hoosier Foodie Meal Kits’ to help with food insecurity on campus, in addition to my Cooking with Katie events. Those initiatives just started with an idea, and it’s been great collaborating with so many groups within and outside of Student Life to make them successful. I love our team!”
Annie Willis
Dean of Students Office
Annie is the Associate Director for Care and Advocacy for the Dean of Students Office. Annie has worked at IU and in the Student Life field for 42 years.
What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?
“Over the four decades of my service to students, countless numbers of students have told me that they did not think that they belonged or could complete a degree at IU. They said that they could tell that I believed in them and that I had made them feel respected, welcomed, valued, and cared about. They said that they could sense my care for them by the way I greeted them with a smile/hug and interacted with them positively regardless of who they were, how they looked, etc. They said that they felt safe with me and that not only did I care for them, but that I listened carefully to them and did not make any judgmental expressions, verbally or non-verbally, based upon what they had shared. They told me that they felt heard and accepted and not judged as had often been the way that they had been treated by others. Many of the hundreds of students that I have worked with for the past four decades have called me their ‘Auntie Annie.’ I love that honor as I have never been married and do not have any children of my own. I have many stories and they all center around my love for students.”
What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Life?
“Commit to the work by showing students that you care by being present, listening more than you speak, being kind and willing to learn from the students to better understand what they need, adapting to change, knowing your abilities, and being honest and fair. Don’t fear seeking out colleagues who could better assist you in serving students in the best possible way. Also, remember to rest yourself mentally and physically so that you can be the best possible version of yourself for your students. Lastly, exercise your smile muscles so that they become so strong that they push the frown muscles and wrinkles off of your lovely face!”
Is there anything else about working in this field that you would like to share with others?
“Listen to students without judgment or prejudice, let them know that you value them and their opinions, and remind them they belong at IU. Let them know that the space they occupy with you is a safe place for them to share their concerns with you. Let students know that you are committed to assisting them in their success at IU. Be willing to participate in many learning opportunities that could help you to stay updated on the current/newest trends in the field of Student Life. Keep a welcoming and caring smile on your face for students, and your colleagues who support you and are in this field along with you. Be supportive of your colleagues as well as they too have a lot of knowledge to share with you if you ask. Don’t be shy about seeking out help as we are working towards the same goal when it comes to students, their college experience, and their success now and in the future.”
Stay tuned all throughout October for more staff spotlights!
All equally inspiring! I love that this allows staff to highlight how their work impacts them as well as the students – win win. All Day!