
With a new school year comes new policies, new experiences, and new people. For the students and staff who work within residence life, this is no exception.
One of the biggest and most obvious changes to residence life at Waynesburg this semester is the terminology change from Resident Assistant (RA) to Resident Mentor (RM). The next higher power on the residence life chain are the resident directors (RDs). WU employs six RDs, three of whom are new this year.
The returning RDs consist of Heidi Dziak (Burns), Aaron Sielski (Thayer), and Gordon Truesdale (Martin). Joining the WU resident life RD roster is Angelica Good (SWEP), Essence Suggs (Denny/Ray), and Thomas Hyland (Willison). Anna Magazzolo, a Junior and RM of Denny and Ray, is excited about having a new RD in charge.
“It’s definitely been weird not having the RD from last year. Since I had grown a relationship with her from last year and my freshman year. But our current RD is awesome! She is amazing, and considerate. So I mean, she’s made the transition easy, especially after having our RD leave and becoming independent last semester. It’s almost a little weird going from not having an RD to having an RD,” Maggazzolo said.
Magazzolo said having Suggs as an RD so far this year has been great and she could not have asked for anyone better.
Along with the new RDs, residence life has also acquired a new assistant Dean of Student Development, Blair Howarth, who now serves as the RD’s supervisor. Magazzolo describes Howarth as “awesome” and “understanding.”
Hannah Wilson, A senior SWEP RM, also agrees and says the transition of new staff has been smooth.
“The new RD’s and Blair are kind and knowledgeable. Everyone in residence life has been supportive and receptive to the changes that are occurring,” she said.
As policies and regulations change throughout residence life, it is important for students who live on campus to know what changes are being made and when. The best way to do this is to contact an RM, or an RD. Their contact information is located within the dorms. By going to the faculty and staff directory on the university’s website, students can also locate the RD’s contact information if they have any questions or concerns.