ACUHO-I Stories ACUHO International

In this episode, host Gerry Kowalski, Executive Director Emeritus of University Housing at the University of Georgia, is joined by guests Joanie Schmidt, Director of Residence Life, Central Michigan University, Emeritus; Vickie Hawkins, Director of University Housing, Georgia Southern University and Senior Associate Director of University Housing, Appalachian State University, retired; Michael Schultz, Emeritus Director of University Housing, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; and Chuck Rhodes, Emeritus Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Sonoma State University, and current Doctoral student in Afrocentric Community Building and Organizing at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. 
Gerry’s network of colleagues, friends, and mentees anticipate his frequent ‘porch reports’ on social media, sharing his thoughts and observations on life from his Georgia home. While the pandemic prevented him from hosting friends in person, he reached out with an idea of gathering some of his fellow campus housing retirees for a virtual conversation to reflect on the state of the profession over the past year-and-a-half, and offer perspective based on their years of experience. We invite you to have a seat and enjoy their discussion.

Host Luis Inoa, Dean of Student Living and Wellness at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and ACUHO-I's Anti-Racism Director, is joined by four association leaders - all men of color who have either served or will be serving as ACUHO-I President.
Harry LeGrande, Emeritus Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs at the University of California-Berkeley,
Vennie Gore, Senior Vice President for Residential and Hospitality Services and Auxiliary Enterprises at Michigan State University,
Dr. Alvin Sturdivant, Vice President for Student Development at Seattle University, and
Dr. Leon McClinton, Director of Housing and Residential Life at Oklahoma State University,
discuss their paths to the ACUHO-I presidency, in addition to the people, places, and issues that impacted them along the way. 

Grant is joined by Rebecca O'Hare, Assistant Director of Residence Life & Accommodation and Facilities Directorate at the University of Leeds, and the current ACUHO-I Global Initiatives Network Chair. Rebecca recently completed her Masters thesis at Anglia Ruskin University that explores induction and training practices of accommodation managers in the United Kingdom who work in purpose-built student accommodation (public-private partnerships). She shares her insight and expertise regarding the past, present, and future of the professionalization of campus housing in the UK. 

Dr. Alvin Sturdivant, Vice President for Student Development at Seattle University and ACUHO-I Past President, joins host Grant Walters for the first episode of this podcast. Alvin discusses the ways in which eminent leadership has been important in his personal and professional life and how he has navigated times of change throughout his career through a lens of equity and inclusion.

We are the Association of College & University Housing Officers-International, a global organization whose core purpose is to advance the campus housing profession in service of students. Our association’s product is people, and the ACUHO-I Stories podcast is designed to bring our listeners closer to their peers in the field and explore the ideas, issues, and experiences that matter to them most.