Thoughts from Clark Dawood...
When I graduated from college I was considering a career in student affairs, but was unsure whether or not I was ready to continue on right away to graduate school. I decided instead to gain some practical experience and began searching for Hall Director positions. When I interviewed with Lawrence University I immediately knew that it was a place I wanted to work. From my first interview I was treated with a warmth and respect by the student affairs staff that only continued to grow during my two years there. I was lucky enough to have been offered a position at Lawrence and it only took me a day to decide that Appleton, Wisconsin would become my home. As with any transition, the move from full time student to full time professional was challenging, but with the support of a variety of people I quickly acclimated to my new responsibilities and roles.
Lawrence is a unique place, being both a college and a music conservatory, which attracts an extremely remarkable student body. Tucked away in a community that will surprise you (who knew Wisconsin could be fun?), Lawrence boasts a large international student population, an impressive academic reputation, and students who genuinely care about their college experience. LU is one of the few places I know of where students fought for and are still guaranteed the right to true self-governance. Students at Lawrence set every non-academic policy and are committed to providing for each other a safe, just and comfortable community. While this experiment in student democracy is often time consuming, the experience of watching students move from point A to point B in such complex ways is a demonstration in true learning that you as a Hall Director have a chance to influence and inspire.
Being a part of this learning community will always shape the work I do in student affairs, and it prepared me unbelievably well for my entrance into the University of Maryland’s College Student Personnel Program. My experiences at Lawrence have proved invaluable to me in my academic work, and the insights I have taken away from my students and my colleagues strengthen my practice. As a Hall Director at Lawrence, you will become an integral part of the greater campus community and be provided the opportunity to work intimately with students in your building, advise hall governments, and gain a true appreciation for a close-knit community of learners. You will be unprepared for the awesome relationships you will build with Lawrence students and the degree to which they will learn from you and you from them. True, you may not always understand them, but that's where the rest of the student affairs staff becomes invaluable.
Even now I feel like I was supervised by one of the best professionals in the field, Amy Uecke, and am grateful for such a gifted and caring mentor in my life. The department of residence life is characterized by true collegial support and an intense sense of humor. Staff meetings were of course always productive, and one of the highlights of my week. The friendships I built at Lawrence were one of the “perks” that they didn't mention in the job description. In addition, the collateral experience at Lawrence is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job since it demonstrates a commitment on the part of the senior student affairs staff to provide new professionals with exciting personal development opportunities in offices outside of Residence Life.
Beginning your career at Lawrence is an excellent decision, and while there will definitely be tough days you will walk away feeling like you had the chance to make a positive and significant difference for your students and for the institution, and hopefully you will reflect often on what it is that Lawrence is giving to you.
Clark Dawood