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Corn-fed and Cheesehead
New housing team brings Midwestern roots to
UAS
By Vita Wilson
Whalesong Staff
Imagine
moving from Muncie, Indiana (if you’ve never been there, take
this writer’s word that Indiana is not a very exciting state),
where Ball State University has 6,000 students in housing, to UAS
in Juneau, Alaska, which has around 250 housing residents. Amanda
Knerr, one of UAS’ new housing managers, made this move in
May from Muncie, where she was the residence hall director of an
all women’s building and received a Master’s degree in
Student Affairs Administration. Alaska was always a place she always
wanted to move to but never thought she’d have the opportunity.
Jeff Myers, housing’s other new manager, moved
at the end of July from Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he worked for
two years as a resident assistant and assistant hall director at
a private university that required students to live in campus housing
all four years. He earned degrees in Math and Economics and loves
to play basketball (after all, he is seven feet tall). Jeff is an
adventurous type with, in his own words, an “entrepreneur mind,”
having moved to Juneau without even visiting first and planning
to retire before he’s 40.
Although moving from the Midwest to Alaska is a big
change, Jeff and Amanda have adapted to and welcomed differences
in the way that things are conducted here at UAS. Jeff really likes
the small-town feel of Juneau, yet is surprised at what can and
cannot be found here. For example, he would never just hand out
Tylenol to a student in the Lower 48: “Giving Tylenol to a
student is such a liability,” and he says the chain of command
here is dramatically different from his previous job. Amanda finds
it very helpful that she call her supervisor, a faculty member,
or an instructor regarding a student, and that person can give her
insight regarding the student to help him or her more effectively.
They both comment on how easy it is to make changes, and how, compared
to larger schools, the student voice is heard more here.
Of course Amanda and Jeff are also bringing changes
to UAS. Their goals include building good communication with students
and helping them recognize that they can learn in the housing environment.
Most of all, Amanda and Jeff would like students in housing to think
of UAS as their home. Residents are in very professional hands this
year with the new housing management team. With both of their past
experiences and all the advantages of UAS’ small campus, living
in UAS housing should be more comfortable, safe, and enjoyable for
all.
Email Vita Wilson at dolcevita23@hotmail.com
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