INTRODUCTION
Hello!
My name is Evan Bonello (they/them), and I am a graduate student in the Higher Education & Student Affairs M.S.Ed. program at Indiana University-Bloomington. I currently work as an Assistant Residence Life Coordinator for Student Development in the Department of Residence Life. I work in the Agnes E. Wells Quadrangle. The Office of Residence Life, in conjunction with other units like Housing Assignments, Dining, Facilities Operations, and Auxiliary Services, work together to realize the mission of the department and the university (more details below). The Office of Residence Life provides housing accommodations to over 12,000 students in residence halls and apartments.
Via IU Student Life
My Role
Assistant Residence Life Coordinators for Student Development, otherwise referred to as Assistant Coordinators or simply ACs, are graduate-level students who serve on the Residence Life Leadership Team for one of 15 residence centers at Indiana University-Bloomington. Overall, the role of Assistant Coordinators is, "to develop successful academic and residential life experiences for students," and, "to cultivate productive and well-rounded citizens through living and learning in the residential environment," (Assistant Coordinator: Residential Programs and Services, n.d.) Overall, the purpose of Assistant Coordinators are to ensure smooth and seamless operations in a residence center related to student development, learning, community-building, and safety.
My Responsibilities
ACs have many responsibilities related to supporting residents and maintaining facility operations in their residence centers. The largest responsibility of my position is the supervision of undergraduate Resident Assistant (RA) staff. Throughout my position, I have supervised between 5-8 RAs and I am responsible for ensuring their comprehension of the residential curriculum model, helping them to implement community building practices, and for assessing their performance. Additionally, I am tasked with advising the Residence Hall Association (RHA) student government and the STEM Thematic Community. Beyond my role in the residence center, I also work in a duty rotation for the Southeast Residential Neighborhood and work closely with campus partners, such as the Office of Student Conduct and the Student Care and Resource Center.
INSTITUTION MISSIONS
Office of Student Life Mission
"With students at the center of all we do, the Office of Student Life promotes and facilitates a meaningful experience that enhances success, lifelong learning, and personal growth." (About: Office of Student Life, n.d.)
Residence Life Mission
"We strive to create life-changing experiences by building relationships, developing others, and creating a sense of belonging for our students, their families, and the IU community." (About: Residential Programs and Services, n.d.)
As a student affairs professional, these missions relate to my own personal values and goals. Both missions emphasize students, experiences, and personal growth. I pursue student affairs because I believe in the ability for higher education to critically impact a students life. Additionally, student affairs and higher education is about much more than simply earning a degree or passing a class; the experiences that students have during their time, both positive and negative, contribute to their overall growth and development. These values are demonstrated in the mission of my department and university division.