Life as a Residence Director

Welcome to a selection of Residence Director stories from both past & present RDs as well as students that RDs have worked with. We hopes this helps illustrate what life as an RD is like at GU!

"What's unique about being an RD at GU? Two things come to mind! First is the autonomy as RDs that we receive, but also the constant support that is also available to us. It has been beneficial to have leadership that trusts the work of supervisees, and gives us space to lead our student staff teams that work best for the individual while still having a broad vision for the whole team. The second thing that comes to mind is the respect that our leadership has for our personal time. For the first week I started at Gonzaga, I always felt encouraged and supported to make sure that I always have my life outside of work. It has really helped with the maintaining of work life balance."

- Addie Kemp - Current Residence Director for South Block

"I have enjoyed being able to have a direct impact on the experiences that students living in the residence halls have and being able to support them in their pursuits while at Gonzaga. I have had lots of opportunity to learn more while in the role, especially as I have gotten more experience with supervising students. I really appreciate the dedication and creativity our many staff members bring to their role. I've been gracious to supervise staff members who enjoy what they do even with the challenging aspects of their roles and are dedicated to supporting the residents in the halls. One of the ways that this has been clearest is through their creativity in coming up with new programs or ways to reach their residents."
- Andrew Sepulveda - Current Residence Director for West Block

(Picture of 2 RDs at NASPA Annual Conference 2024 in Seattle with 2 Gonzaga Student Affairs colleagues)
"I’ve had lots of opportunities to connect with other departments both formally and informally here! Some more formal opportunities include the Employee Sustainability Ambassador cohort that I joined (this was just a semester long commitment, but our group of folks stays in touch even a year later!) and the Inclusive Excellence Academy hosted by our Office of Inclusive Excellence, which focuses on ways you can strive for greater inclusivity and advocacy for marginalized identities as an educator. I’ve also enjoyed happy hours and socials put on by other campus departments that have no agenda aside from taking dedicated time to connect with colleagues from across campus. In my experience, most offices also have an open door policy, so I often find myself stopping to chat with folks from all different areas as I go about the day across campus. The culture here is very relational, so folks tend to take any and every chance to get to know their fellow staff members, which is something that I’ve really appreciated!"
- Emily Hunter - Current Residence Director for Central Block.
(Picture of Central Block student staff with RD Emily during Fall 2024 Olympics event during student leader training.)
"Student staff members at Gonzaga tend to be very excited about building community and grow very invested in their residents and co-workers. Many will speak about their student staff experience as a highlight of their college career, which is always heartwarming to hear as a supervisor. I’ve continued to stay in touch with students that I supervise even after they leave my block and have written recommendations for several students in the department as they prepare for their next steps after graduation. Students generally have a lot of love and care for their university and take pride in being a Zag! "
- Emily Hunter - Current Residence Director for Central Block.

"I receive a one-bedroom apartment. We are also given funds to use for dining funds. I have two cats that are approved to live in my apartment. We also receive a pretty sizeable budget for Professional Development, which has been really nice! I've been able to go to multiple conferences in my time here, as well as find smaller ways to support my development. I'd say a perk that has been extremely important to me is the encouraged and supported work life balance. As much as I am pushed to show up well in my work life, our leadership team also hold us accountable to taking time for ourselves, getting away from the job to refresh, and doing so at any point in the year. This approach has made my time at Gonzaga, and in Student Affairs in general, a more sustainable career for me! - Addie Kemp - Current Residence Director for South Block
During my time working in Housing and Residence Life, I have observed RDs who exemplified both professionalism and strong relational skills. The RDs are responsible for overseeing a residence hall and demonstrated a deep commitment to the safety and well-being of the residents while maintaining a friendly and approachable demeanor. They balanced the demands of the job with fostering positive relationships, particularly with the Resident Assistants and staff they supervise. By setting clear expectations and boundaries at the start of the year, they ensured tasks were completed on time and created a structured yet supportive work environment."
- Calvin Fisk - Current Assistant Residence Director for Coughlin Block