While attending Philadelphia University, now known as Jefferson University-East Falls Campus, I tore my rotator cuff while playing baseball, so I decided to apply to be a student coordinator in the Student Activities Office. As a student coordinator, I organized programs that allowed students to not only have fun but also grow in multitudes of ways, from leadership to diversity to self-care. The more I learned how to encourage students to become leaders, the more I fell in love with the profession. The staff I worked with made me realize that I wanted to pursue a career in student affairs.
It’s not just one interaction, but the interactions I have with staff and students when they have the lightbulb moment. When I see that, and their imagination goes wild with different possibilities or they realize an easier solution to a situation, it provides me a consistent reminder that I did make the right choice!
What is the biggest challenge you face in your job?
The biggest challenge that I have faced so far is going from an entry-level position to a mid-level position. Entry-level positions involve onboarding trainings and development, but as you get higher into mid-level and senior-level positions, the development trainings slow down. My best advice is to absorb all the trainings during the first few years as an entry-level professional, gain different knowledge, and attend different conferences. I learned so much in my entry-level position that I was able to transition into my position smoothly.
What “must have” item do you have in your office (or wherever you are calling an office now)?
The must-have item in my office is a Figment Funko Pop. Figment is a character from Epcot, and it is meant to be the literal embodiment of the phrase “Figment of the Imagination.” It is a consistent reminder that no matter what the situation is or how difficult a situation might be, there can be a creative solution by using your imagination. As the director of residence life, I am always coming up with creative ways to engage students and staff.
This might be a cliché answer, but it’s the students. At Ringling College of Art + Design the projects that students produce are simply amazing. An entire floor of the Ulla Searing Student Center is dedicated to movie posters with recognition of Ringling alumni. Additionally, there are many galleries around campus showcasing students’ work. We have an event each year where students can showcase their portfolio to various companies that come to campus. Students who graduate from Ringling typically work for big companies such as Pixar, Walt Disney Studios, Universal, Cartoon Network, GAP, and more.
This power goes along with my teamwork mentality – the ability to control time. In our field, there are instances where we don’t know where the time went or are unable to complete certain tasks. Controlling time would allow more productivity during the workday (completing committee assignments, coming up with new processes, etc.) while providing time to meet with staff and students.
Trevor Dority is the director of residence life at Ringling College of Art + Design in Sarasota, Florida. Have a colleague you think others should get to know? Please share with us at talkingstick@acuho-i.org and you may see them in a future issue of the magazine.