HC: What drew you to Bryant University over other schools to work at?
RH: To be completely honest, I never planned to return to Bryant as an administrator when I graduated in 2004. I had the most incredible undergraduate experience possible at Bryant and I never wanted to change that experience by working here. But in 2007 I was working in Residence Life at Roger Williams and I heard about the job posting at Bryant. I had always said that my next step in higher education would be working in either leadership or community service and oddly enough the job at Bryant was in both leadership and service. It was fate and I knew I needed to at least apply. Being a Bryant alum is an absolute honor, but being chosen to work at Bryant was a top 5 life moment for me and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
HC: Did you ever have an alternative “Dream Job” that you wanted to do?
RH: This is my dream job and I am blessed to have realized very early on what I was meant to do and where my passions lie. I have always said that one day I would love to be a professor for a master or doctoral program focusing in student affairs and higher education. Helping transform someone else’s student affairs experience would be incredible and I hope to make that dream come true some day.
HC: How has Bryant impacted your career today?
RH: I have received opportunities at Bryant that will forever shape my higher education experience. Opportunities such as helping students facilitate meaningful and impactful programs, getting the chance to supervise incredibly devoted professionals and students, creating the Bryant It Gets Better video, redeveloping our Linked Through Leadership Program, creating the IDEA Program alongside devoted faculty, staff and students, and being initiated with the first Bryant Sigma Chi class have all been pinnacle moments for me. Beyond these experiences, I get to be a part of my students “aha” moments, life lessons and personal accomplishments which give me unexplainable pride and makes my life richer each and every day.
HC: Tell us about one of your best experiences as Director of Student Life.
RH: There are so many but being a part of the 2 year renovation process and opening of the Fisher Student Center ha s been one of the most challenging, rewarding, collaborative, and exciting experiences of my career. The work is far from over but the journey has been amazing and I love that my alma mater is a better place because of its new “Campus Living Room”.
HC: How has Bryant helped shape you into the person you are today?
RH: Bryant has played an extremely important role in my life for the past 15 years and this institution has changed my life for the better both personally and professionally. Not only has the institution connected me with mentors, colleagues, and lifelong friends, but Bryant has taught me the true meaning of a student centered education, the definition of community, and what effective collaboration really entails. I will forever remember the way Bryant has consistently challenged me to be better and do better; my hope is that I have done the same for Bryant.
HC: Talk about the new position you have recently accepted at NYU.
RH: I will be joining the Student Resource Center at NYU whose mission is to provide a seamless communication plan to the NYU student population and a place for all questions to be answered. Secondly the department creates programs, services, and a resource center for various sub-populations at the university including veterans, transfer students, commuters, students with children etc. Lastly the SRC is home to the Class Activity Boards who manage all class related programs as well as manage the Welcome Week programming and logistics which educates all new students through over 500 programs. As the Associate Director, I will work with a team of students, program advisors, and graduate students to create leadership opportunities, mentorship experiences, faculty-student collaborations, civic engagement programs, and advocacy to 20,000 commuter, off campus, and transfer populations.
HC: How has Bryant prepared you for this new role?
RH: I take with me a host of skills, experiences, accomplishments, stumbles, and “aha” moments that will guide me throughout my time at NYU. Bryant gave me the opportunity to use each and every skill I have but also pushed me to develop the skills I didn’t. I always hear how thankful Bryant students are for their holistic experience, as a staff member I am just as thankful and appreciative.
HC: What do you want people to remember you by after you leave here?
RH: First and foremost, I will be back and will be seen here again. Bryant is my alma mater, it’s the place I “grew up”, it’s the place I will always call home, and it’s a place that’s near and dear to my heart. My ultimate hope is I will be remembered for trying to give as much as I gained. I hope to be remembered for being someone whose door was always open, someone who gave meaningful advice, and someone who was willing to give back in any way I could. I am always humbled and genuinely honored when people call or email me or stop by because they “thought I might be able to help”, I truly hope I was able.
HC: What will you miss the most about Bryant?
RH: It would be easier to list what I won’t miss; it’s a much shorter list. I will miss my dedicated and passionate staff, the many smiling faces and hello’s I receive throughout campus, chapter meetings with my EX brothers, IDEA Facilitation Team meetings, daily rounds through the Fisher Center, ODK Induction, the leadership retreats, the feelings and emotions associated with Orientation Opening Weekend, and Commencement at Bryant, walking through the Archway on a daily basis, having Dunkin in the building, and the moments that tweak a memory of my own college experience. But most of all, I will genuinely miss the people. The people here will always be what I feel most blessed for.