For nine years, I found immense joy in aiding students in different ways in higher education as they set out on their academic journeys following high school. After taking a five-year break to work in the hotel industry, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to shift back to working in student housing at Texas Tech University. The background I had from managing occupancy in hotels has assisted me greatly in my current position.
The biggest challenge at times would be conversations with parents. Navigating these conversations with parents often proves to be a challenging task as both parties often enter the dialogue without the full range of information. But this challenge has assisted in growing my leadership and communication skills.
What “must have†item do you have in your office (or wherever you are calling an office now)?
Any type of fidget spinner I can have on my desk always comes in handy during the day!
To be honest, that is one position and title at the university that I would not want.
What motivates you in your work?
I receive immense satisfaction from assisting people, both our students and colleagues. I have thoroughly enjoyed nurturing my staff's leadership qualities and collaborating with them to devise solutions for some of the most difficult and complex problems in order to gain the best outcomes for our students and our department.
We know not all heroes wear a cape, but what superpower would be most helpful in your job?
The ability to read people’s minds so I can understand what they truly are asking. That way I can provide them the exact answer right away instead of having to play email or phone tag to get all the needed information.
Amanda Reeves is the assistant managing director of the Welcome Center and IT support for university student housing at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. 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.
