Five student and three adult house directors found themselves directing new residences this fall.
Many student positions were left vacant after spring graduation, others because of residence changes, and still others because the deans believed some house directors to be a better fit elsewhere.
“We lost our director for Sigma Chi because he graduated,” said Rebekah Dell, associate dean of women. “And since we no longer needed our house director Debra Nevins for the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, we were able to move her over to the Sigma Chi house.”
Associate Dean of Men Jeffery Rogers will be staying at the Watkins House instead of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house, where he was house director last year.
When thinking of a new house director for the ATO house, the deans thought sophomore Marshall Gobba, who was in charge of the Suites last year, would be a great fit, Dell said.
Gobba now looks forward to working as the house director of ATO. “It’s a more close-knit setting than the Suites,” Gobba said. “It’s the number of people that makes the difference. I think the Suites had almost 120 residents, and they were spread out. At ATO, there’s only 15, including myself, and they are already part of a cohesive unit.”
However, with Gobba at ATO, the Suites was in need of a new house director, and that role is now being filled by a married couple, junior Matthew Duquette and his wife Julia Duquette `10, a staff assistant for institutional advancement. The college has never had a married couple as house directors.
“There are definitely benefits of having [them] house direct, specifically for the Suites, because it’s a dorm that houses both men and women,” Dell said. “While Julia is not technically a house director, if women feel more comfortable talking to her then she can be used as an outlet. It gives us a dynamic opportunity to serve both constituents of the residence.”
Matthew Duquette was able to pick fellow Marine Gobba’s brain on leading the residence.
“Marshall gave us some good advice,” he said, “It’s nice to have him as a source of wisdom.”
The Duquettes plan on living at the Suites for only one year because they are expecting a baby at the end of December.
“I’ve never lived in college housing before,” Matthew Duquette said, “and now I’m going to with a family, so it’s going to be interesting.”
Student directors have many of the same duties as house directors, but they are normally appointed to the smaller dorms. For example, the larger residences, such as the Simpson Hall, are managed by adult house directors, Dell said. Also, freshmen dorms typically have adult supervisors.
“When freshmen are still learning the ropes, having that adult support is valuable,” Dell said. “As students get older and move to smaller residences, we find that student supervisors can do a great job directing them.”
Senior Brianna Landon, student director of Mauck Hall, said she is ready for her new role as house director. “I feel prepared because I was head resident assistant at Koon last year and a lot of the duties overlap.”
The five residences with new student directors are the Suites, the Dow House, Koon Residence, Niedfeldt Residence, and Mauck Hall.
The three residences with new adult directors are the Watkins House, the Sigma Chi house, and the ATO house.
Suzanne Abel has worked as a house director for 24 years and two deans. She currently lives in the Benzing Residence, where she has worked for eight years. She said she believes the deans picked the most qualified adviser for each residence.
“The deans really care about the students,” Abel said, “so when they are choosing house directors or resident assistants, they look to find people that are caring and sincere.”
