Residential Life Staff

The Office of Residential Life is staffed by a well-trained and knowledgeable team of professionals and paraprofessionals in administrative roles: as hall directors and as resident assistants. The Residential Life staff consists of the director, the administrative assistant, five hall directors, and 32 resident assistants. Each member of the Residential Life staff helps build community for residents in their own unique way.

What is an HD?
The main focus of a hall director (HD) is to provide students with a comfortable living environment. This includes socialization, community building, sleeping, studying and a community free from harassment. HDs work with, train, develop and supervise the RAs. They work directly with RAs (resident assistants), DAs (desk assistants), student leaders and the students in their halls. HDs also advise their hall's Hall Council. HDs are responsible for day-to-day operation of the hall, as well as initial conduct hearings in their halls.

Diane Hennan, Helman Hall Director Diane Hennan is in her third year as Helman’s Hall Director. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, she earned her degree in English with minors in Theology, Women’s Studies and Art History from St. Ambrose University. Diane loves vintage comedies, her favorite being, “Some Like it Hot” and loves to spend some of her free time at her new favorite hangout, Kenapocamocha.

Favorite part of my job: "I love helping people achieve their goals!”

Jessica Hickerson, East Hall Director Jessica Hickerson is in her third year as a Hall Director at Manchester University, spending her first two in East, and now managing Schwalm Hall. Originally from Baltimore, Md., she is a 2011 graduate of Manchester University, where she earned a degree in English Writing with minors in Communication and Journalism. Jessica enjoys reading, writing, watching football, and playing video games in her free time.

Favorite part of my job: "I love to watch as communities build within the floors, buildings, and all around campus."

What is an RA?
Resident assistants (RAs) are to develop ongoing relationships with residents on the floor and are committed to helping meet the needs of residents, as students and as responsible members of the campus community. "Assisting" incorporates many aspects including: programming counseling, being a friend, upholding University and residence hall policies, dispensing information, and being available on the floor. Each of these aspects is an appropriate way to meet the needs of the residents.

Each resident assistant is primarily committed to a floor/wing and its residents. In addition, a resident assistant will have many responsibilities involving the entire residence hall. RAs are responsible in the hall for: information, counsel, supervision of hall operations, and emergency response, whether it involves people or the physical facilities.