Thoughts from Curt Lauderdale...
Lawrence University is a unique and very special place to me. I graduated from Lawrence in the vintage year of 2001 and called the campus home for a total of seven years: four years as a student and three years as a hall director. Lawrence is a place of full of tradition and integrity and is committed to fulfilling educational opportunities.
One of the main reasons that I stayed so long is that the people are phenomenal. The students are exciting and challenging. They are highly invested in all aspects of their community. Students at Lawrence are truly concerned about, and genuinely invested in, their college experience. What’s even more exciting is, they want you, as a staff member, to be invested and involved too. The residential communities are diverse in size, theme, and population, but all are active and invested in the greater campus community.
Along with the students, the staff is truly outstanding. As a hall director you will work most closely with the Associate Dean for Residence Life, Amy Uecke. I have NEVER had a better supervisor. I am eternally grateful for the time I had to work with her. The tone she sets for the department is full of support, enthusiasm, humor, and integrity. The Associate Dean, along with the Dean of Students, and the many other student affairs professionals on campus create a caring, accessible, and collaborative environment that is continually full of new ideas and positive encouragement.
Lawrence is abounding with opportunities for everyone who steps onto campus. Students are given immense control of their campus environment. From hall council to the campus student government, students have a major voice in shaping the environment in which they live. As a staff member of Lawrence you are also given great opportunity. You have the ability to explore different offices through collateral positions and committee work. Lawrence is a place where you can explore many of your professional interests. People like to be able to say ‘yes’ to your requests, so don’t be afraid to ask! Your actions on campus, and interactions with students and colleagues, will make you an integral part of the current Lawrence community and a lasting component in Lawrence’s long tradition of exceptional campus involvement and residential life.
After my seventh year at Lawrence, I decided that it was time to move on to the next phase of my career. My time working with in the division of Student Affairs at Lawrence had such a positive impact on me, that I decided to pursue graduate study in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs at The George Washington University in Washington DC. The skills that I developed and refined during my time as a Hall Director, specifically my supervision, managerial, advising and administrative skills, have prepared me extremely well for my graduate study.
There can be no better setting than Lawrence to begin your career. My time at Lawrence University has been one of the most positive experiences of my life. The positive impact you will have on the institution will be second only to the positive impact the institution and its students will have on you.
Curt Lauderdale Lawrence University ‘01
