MUW Provides Career Education, Training For Student And Staff Member

COLUMBUS, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) – Mississippi University for Women’s Office of Housing and Residence Life will send two representatives to professional development and skill-building programs this summer to further their careers in student affairs.

“By being accepted into these conferences, Kris and Dayla have demonstrated a commitment to housing and residence life as well as student affairs,” said Andrew Moneymaker, director of the Office of Housing and Residence Life.

“The opportunities they will have to network with other professionals and students from across the country is limitless.”

Dayla Raths, residence director for Jones Hall, has been invited to Emory University June 1–4 for the Regional Entry Level Institute. The institute is an intensive professional development seminar featuring activities for entry-level professionals who aspire to mid-level positions in housing and residential life.

RELI is open to housing professionals with one to three years of experience and is limited to a maximum of 32 students.

The institute will involve both classroom and individual time with the attendees to cover topics such as budgets, facilities, social justice and staff supervision.

RELI participants will attend sessions hosted by veteran professionals and participate in one-on-one mentoring sessions.

“RELI is a great opportunity to get to know other entry-level housing professionals and to learn directly from seasoned mid/upper-level professionals,” said Raths.

“I hope that I come away from RELI with a greater understanding of the housing profession, myself as a student affairs professional and my future within the field.”

From July 6-10, Kris Sullivan will attend the University of Washington for the State Academic Red Shirt (STARS) program.

The STARS program offers a specialized curriculum designed to build learning skills and academic preparation.

Through the program, participants will be involved with large group presentations, interactive activities, role play situations, self-evaluation and small mentoring groups to educate participants about what a career in campus housing offers.

Limited to 40-55 students, all applicants must have at least one full year of undergraduate study and have demonstrated significant interest in campus housing, residence life and student affairs through their involvement or work experience while maintaining a 3.0 or higher GPA.

Raths hails from Pomfret, Md., and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Roanoke College in Salem, Va. She joined The W staff in 2014. Sullivan is a junior family studies major from Richland.

Moneymaker also noted that he looked forward to learning through both Raths and Sullivan from the ideas and information they gain from their professional development.