Proving her passion and commitment to campus res life, Stacey Perry, Student Services’ new Assistant for Residence Life, moved to Arkansas from her home in Edgerton, Ohio in 2010 to work with student living. In the summer of 2010, Perry began her job at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts as a Residential Mentor and was promoted later to the Community Developer position. After spending five years at ASMSA, Perry accepted the position to serve with Ouachita’s res life.
Perry graduated from Malone University in Cantaan, Ohio with a degree in Psychology and a double minor in Bible and Educational Ministries. While in college Perry really loved res life even though she never served on it. She spent a lot of her college career being involved with student senate. Because of her involvement with the residents she lived with, she began looking for positions as a Resident Director as potential job opportunities for after college.
While looking for RD positions, Perry saw that most employers were looking for applicants that had their master’s degree. Being fresh out of college, Perry was discouraged that she could not compete with other applicants who already had their master’s in higher education. She soon found a solution however when her advisor suggested that she look into working at a residential high school in Arkansas. While working at ASMSA Perry also completed her master’s degree in higher education which she finished this past spring. Now that Perry is at Ouachita she is ready to be involved with students as much as she can.
“At Ouachita I work with housing students, overseeing the apartments by working with apartment managers to keep all the apartment complexes maintained, taking attendance at chapel as well as working with CAB and its leadership and the students involved in the organization,” Perry said.
Working with both res life and sponsoring CAB, Campus Activities Board, Perry mentioned that one of her goals is to help bridge the gap between the two in terms of programming. An example of the move towards this goal was the Island Party TWIRP event that was sponsored by CAB and the freshmen dorm resident directors.
“We want to try to build up some building traditions on campus and so if CAB can continue to partner up with hall directors to do things together we can start doing that instead of working against each other,” Perry said.
Whether she is working with student housing or planning events with students in CAB, Perry has enjoyed her time at Ouachita so far and the relationships that she has been able to develop with students.
“I enjoy any opportunity I get to interact with students,” Perry said. “I love the community in general like going to Dr. Jack’s on Fridays and learning about the campus and its traditions. Working in the office isn’t the best way to meet a lot of students, but when they come in with roommate questions or a housing problem, it’s a great way to build relationships with them and hopefully get to know them.”
Even with the short amount of time that Perry has been on campus she can say that her love for college has grown.
“I just love everything about college,” Perry said. “It’s really a formative time in students’ lives and to be able to be a part of that and hopefully make it better is was I am here for.”
Adapting to the Ouachita culture has not been hard for Perry. She mentions that the campus life reminds her of her college in Ohio.
“I didn’t really face many surprises. I went to a similar college and I was excited to get back to Christian higher education and be a part of a community that values the Biblical foundations,” Perry said. “Coming from a state institution, you have to be careful of political correctness, but here faith is so central that it is Ouachita’s identity and it’s really refreshing to be here and be a part of that.”
Besides working in her office and planning events with CAB, Perry has begun to plug into the community of Ouachita and Arkadelphia hoping to settle into both as her new home.
“I have been going to Parkhill Baptist Church and I am getting involved with Veritas [women’s discipleship],” Perry said. “One of the hardest parts of coming into a new community and figuring out where you want to plug in and where you want to serve and what opportunities are available to do so but Ouachita has been a great place to help figure that out.”
By Sydney Bratton
