Questions by Michelle Sujka and Alexis Monteiro
The ACUHO-I Black Professionals Network and the Womxn in Housing Network recently teamed up to present a virtual roundtable featuring advice and insights from several campus housing professionals. Inspired by the robust and valuable dialogue, the Talking Stick revisited some of the topics and asked participants to answer in writing. The topics touched on several intangible, but still so real, issues that these women have navigated through their careers, offering advice for those who would follow in their footsteps. From campus politics to staff support systems and much more, the participants shared personal thoughts that many could relate to.
Participating in this conversation were Paige Hicks, director of residence life at the University of Chicago; Shamika Karikari, associate director of resident education and development at the University of Cincinnati; Quiana Stone, the director for auxiliary services and university housing for Governors State University; and Nicole Ntumba, assistant director of residential education at Wagner College.
Higher education systems can be complex and require an understanding of campus politics. What are some of the lessons or things that have been helpful in your navigation of different institutions’ politics? How do you survive the effects of some of these unwritten politics?
Shamika Karikari: You have to know who the players are and how to play the game. Recognize what relationships are necessary and who to have in your corner. Sometimes you have to show up and be seen. Do more listening than talking.
Quiana Stone: Things that have been helpful for me in navigating institutional politics have been building relationships across departments and divisions. It was important that, in my first 90 days of starting at a new institution, I meet with my peers in comparable leadership roles to gain a better understanding of the culture, politics, and how things work.
I recommend mastering soft skills like emotional intelligence, conflict management, and persuasion. These abilities will help you build goodwill and relationships with campus partners. It is also important to learn and understand what your supervisors' priorities are, as those should shape or be at the top of a priorities list. Politics can be a lot. Document interactions, agreements, feedback, etc., to cover yourself if politics get messy. CYA (cover your assets).
As a Black woman, how does intersectionality impact your role, and how do you navigate that in the workplace?
Paige Hicks: As a Black woman who works in higher education, I believe you quickly develop a triple consciousness around your race, gender, and sexuality. Throw in other identities, such as ability and socioeconomic status, and you can quickly find yourself questioning and negotiating how you show up. At times, I am hyper-aware of my identity as a woman when I engage in leadership spaces and don’t see folks who share my identity around the table. At other times, I am aware of my blackness and the policing of our bodies and behaviors.
I navigate intersectionality in the workplace by spending a lot of time reflecting on my values and actions to ensure that they fully represent my beliefs as a social justice educator committed to disrupting inequitable policies and procedures that don’t support all of our students.
Stone: As a Black woman in the workplace, I am significantly impacted by intersectionality, which affects how I navigate my professional role and how I show up in spaces. At times, I’ve faced overlapping biases and discrimination based on both my race and gender, and I had to work to tactfully call out those behaviors and practices that seem biased or prejudiced.
I bring my whole self to work – my background, culture, values, and interests – and it's important that I practice self-care and focus on my well-being. One way I do that is by seeking out mentors and identifying who my allies are. Their support empowers me to stand up for myself while choosing my battles carefully. My intersectionality provides me with a distinct vantage point that, while challenging at times, makes me a more compassionate, creative, and effective professional in various spaces.
The term "Strong Black Superwoman Syndrome" is often used to describe Black women who feel obligated to help others, suppress their own emotions, manifest strength, and resist appearing vulnerable, often leading to unrealistic expectations in the workplace. How have you been able to set personal and professional boundaries in your current role?
Hicks: I spend time expressing what support looks like for me to my supervisor. I am grateful that my supervisor is committed to ensuring that there is care for me as a person and a professional in the organization. He has spent ample time researching the racialized strain of Black professionals in higher education and has a vested interest in ensuring my success. My supervisor role-models and engages in revolutionary self-care practices and encourages his team to do the same. I do this by reading, hiking, and biking.
Karikari: The strong Black woman trope continues to be prevalent in higher education. In order to push up against that, I've learned to set up my personal and professional boundaries. I've reflected on my values and my non-negotiables and then made decisions from that. I already have the role. I don't need to prove my worth day in and day out. Instead, I work to be a valued member of the team, allowing my work and presence to speak for itself. I say “no” to people or requests. I recommend opportunities to others when my plate is full. I also produce high-quality work. I believe we're hired to do a job, and so as I set my boundaries, I have to ensure that my work is still being completed.
Stone: As a Black woman, I recognize that the strong Black superwoman archetype is something I have needed to thoughtfully reflect on and establish boundaries around. Recognizing that this is an ongoing process requiring self-awareness, solid communication skills, and self-advocacy, I seek to set healthy personal and professional boundaries in the workplace. I also remind myself that “no” is not a bad word and to embrace using it. I have learned to say “no” to requests that reinforce the Superwoman myth, acknowledging that I have limits like everyone else. I also lean on supportive leadership, mentors, and peers to create authentic workspaces where folx feel respected and safe to express what they need and don’t need to be successful.
What is the biggest challenge in residence life at the moment, and what is your response to this challenge?
Hicks: As a field, we need to think critically about what’s to come. The enrollment cliff is quickly approaching. Emerging research indicates that the new class of students are describing themselves as “under-socialized” and “not mentally ready for the collegiate environment.” We need to consider how we are building facilities and creating environments to address these needs. Additionally, housing and residence life must be able to identify best practices for recruiting and retaining housing staff. We can’t continue to engage in this work if we don’t have folks around the table.
Karikari: Staff discontentment is the greatest challenge. I find that entry-level and in-hall staff are not happy or feel they are worked too much. However, it's hard to figure out how to meet their needs while still providing quality service to our students.
Stone: I would say that two hot topics are being discussed, which are staff shortages and student mental health. The pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues for many students living on campus. Residence life staff need proper training to recognize warning signs and to get students’ appropriate support. Students are requesting more accommodations, and some of our facilities are not updated fast enough to handle the requests. Additionally, as in many fields right now, residence life is experiencing staff recruitment and retention challenges. Creating supportive and collaborative work cultures, offering competitive pay and benefits, and promoting healthy work/life balance can help.
Nicole Ntumba: I think the biggest challenge in residence life at the moment is managing the aftereffects of the COVID pandemic and the change in the landscape of first-year students. We briefly saw it in 2021 and 2022, but now we have crossed the threshold of students who were home on Zoom for significant amounts of time through junior high and high school and whose social interactions and overall interests may have changed from what we know traditional students have experienced. My answer to this challenge is to get creative and think outside of what we thought first-year students needed in the residence halls. There's an opportunity to meet them halfway, create the best possible experience, and be part of their growth while on campus. This could also include taking a step back into what previous students already had coming in and starting there.
How do you build a network of support, and what is one thing you would like to see institutions or colleagues do differently to better support you?
Stone: I have built a network of support through many different avenues. On campus, I try to network by attending events, participating in coffee chats, cross-collaborating, and getting to know campus partners. Through my membership in professional organizations, I volunteer my time serving on committees and in other leadership roles that allow me to work with professionals regionally and nationally.
Things that I would like to do differently to better support professionals include encouraging leadership transparency and open communication to prevent feelings of isolation. I appreciate supervisors who have an open-door policy. Also, wellness initiatives demonstrate investment in human sustainability. Things like flextime, mental health days, and staff retreats help enormously.
What advice has helped you get to where you are now, and what advice would you have for others who want to set off in a similar direction?
Karikari: Do quality work and build connections. I have found that my work speaks for itself when it's strong, and the connections have been a lifeline for me.
Stone: Bloom where you are planted for however short or long that will be. By doing this, you can focus on the work and the skills that are being sharpened so that you are better equipped for future opportunities and create meaningful work experiences in the process. Secondly, I would say “know your role.” Do get overly focused on what someone else is or is not doing and focus on what your role is. We can be quick to critique someone else’s performance but not our own.
Ntumba: I concentrate on staying true to myself and focusing on the task at hand. When stepping into a new role or onto a new campus, definitely get to know the environment and then see how you can stay true to who you are while finding your footing. I have also kept my why at the top of my mind; making an impact on the students I work with and setting them up for success has always been the crux of my reason for being a student affairs professional. So I find the moments of joy and positivity keep me grounded while also pushing me to be my best self and, in turn, pushing my students to be their best selves.
What are some things that have allowed you to be successful as you have advanced through your career within housing? What challenges have you faced, and how did you work through them?
Stone: Things that have allowed me to be successful as I have advanced include solid mentorship and sponsorship from others in the field and working to create a professional development plan that introduces new competencies that I don’t have much experience with. This includes taking on the occasional project or task that isn’t my favorite but is necessary for my growth and development.
What is one piece of practical advice you would give to someone to be successful in housing?
Stone: Get face time with students and staff in spaces that they frequent outside of the office setting. That can be done by attending campus events, organization meetings, or meals in the dining facilities. That way, they see themselves as being invested differently and as approachable. Ask yourself how your presence adds value to the fabric of the institution and student-staff experience. Plus, always keep learning. Continuous learning ensures that you can partner effectively with students throughout their evolving college experience and better support your staff. It also models good practices that empower student success and positive work experiences for your team.
Ntumba: Keep an open mind, and be willing to learn new things. I wasn't a resident assistant in undergrad and originally had no interest in housing, but one internship completely changed my mind. Ever since then, I have grown and learned so much in each corner of this field. I would also highly suggest professional development conferences and opportunities that you're able to attend. There are numerous opportunities either regionally or nationally that are available all year round to help expand your knowledge. It's helpful to talk with others who are in the same field but from different campuses.
Michelle Sujka is the assistant director of housing facility operations at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio and chair of the Womxn in Housing Network. Alexis Monteiro is a hall director at the University of Connecticut in Storrs and chair of the Black Housing Professionals Network.
