In this episode, Dr. Jones speaks with his supervisor (Dr. Mylon Kirksy, Senior Director for Residence Life) about leading a Residence Life unity during the pandemic, his leadership philosophy, and goals for returning to campus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In this episode, Dr. Jones speaks with his supervisor (Dr. Mylon Kirksy, Senior Director for Residence Life) about leading a Residence Life unity during the pandemic, his leadership philosophy, and goals for returning to campus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"http:\/\/podcasts.la.utexas.edu\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2021\/04\/2021-04-07_L-I-V-E_Episode-18_First-Among-Equals_v1.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"46.85M","filesize_raw":"49122938","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":""},"tags":[625,590,467],"series":[2],"class_list":{"0":"post-252","1":"podcast","2":"type-podcast","3":"status-publish","5":"tag-residence-life","6":"tag-student-affairs","7":"tag-the-pandemic","8":"series-live","9":"entry"},"acf":{"related_episodes":"","hosts":[{"ID":68,"post_author":"39","post_date":"2020-07-20 20:29:28","post_date_gmt":"2020-07-20 20:29:28","post_content":"","post_title":"Dr. Brandon Jones","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dr-brandon-jones","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2020-07-20 20:33:17","post_modified_gmt":"2020-07-20 20:33:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/podcasts.la.utexas.edu\/live\/?post_type=speaker&p=68","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"guests":[{"ID":255,"post_author":"23","post_date":"2021-04-08 20:50:45","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-08 20:50:45","post_content":"\n
Senior Director of Residence Life, University Housing and Dining
Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy<\/p>\n","post_title":"Dr. Mylon Kirksy","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"dr-mylon-kirksy","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2021-04-08 20:50:46","post_modified_gmt":"2021-04-08 20:50:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/podcasts.la.utexas.edu\/live\/?post_type=speaker&p=255","menu_order":0,"post_type":"speaker","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"Transcript":"
[0:00:04 Speaker 0] Mm hmm. Welcome to live leadership, innovation, Ventures and entrepreneurship. A podcast that showcases the talents, skills and abilities of UT faculty, staff and students. I’m your host, Brandon Jones, associate director for student learning and development in housing and dining. And we’re excited to have you listening to us. Welcome, everybody to the leadership, Innovation Ventures and Entrepreneurship Podcast. I am your host, Dr Brandon Jones, associate director for student learning and development in housing and dining at the University of Texas at Austin. And today we have another very special guest with us, and it’s the person who actually gave us the idea to create the live podcast. And so I am happy to present to some and reintroduced to others. My supervisor, Dr Milan Kirksey. Boss. How you doing today? Doing good. And Dr Jones, how are you? I’m doing well, Thank you. And I appreciate you taking the time to be with us on the show today. Since this is your brain child, I thought it was very important to make sure that we bring you on the show and just talk to you about the work that you’re doing here at UT but also to give our audience a chance to get to know more about you. Because I cite you literally every episode. I’m always saying something that you say in meetings or something that was inspiring, that I thought would help our audience. And so it was the right thing to do to make sure we got you on the show at least one time. I appreciate I appreciate the opportunity to be here and talk to the people. And, you know, uh, I appreciate you giving me the credit for the vision of the show, but, uh, you know, I think that’s really your brainchild and all the great work that you’re doing there. You know, I think it’s part of my official responsibilities to encourage you to do things. I take it, you know, But, uh but I just I’m just thankful to be a part of it and have an opportunity to be a part of such a, I think, an innovative show and one that is providing a good platform for our students, faculty and staff at the university. Well, thank you for saying that before we get into the meat of our questions today, why don’t you tell the folks a little bit about yourself, where you’re from your educational background and just a little bit about how you got to where you are today. Yeah, sure. You know? Well, I’m originally from Chicago land area, and, you know, you got to say Chicago land area because claim Chicago people don’t want to know exactly what high school you went to and everything like that. Um, So the Chicago land area my my family, a majority of my family was raised in and around the Cicero area. I myself grew up in the southwest suburbs around Darien and Willowbrook. And those places out there to shout out for anybody who knows those places Bowling Brook and etcetera. So, yeah, originally from Chicago, been a lot of different places around the country As I moved through, you know, undergraduate to graduate school, Uh, and then ultimately, um, you know, when I got my doctorate. So I’ve I’ve lived in Illinois. I’ve lived in Washington, D. C. A summer, uh, in Arizona, uh, lived in Georgia. Um, now, here in Texas, Uh, like I said, I’ve been in California. So, um, really had an opportunity to see the country and uh, in many ways, meet so many great people along the way, so yeah, yeah. You know, I, um, was raised by a single mom. Um, I have two sisters, one that I lived with, all you know, throughout my adolescent life. And, um, you know, my mom is, you know, the cornerstone, the center of my world. Um, in many ways, and so all of who I am I owe to her in many fabulous women and men who were great mentors, you know, for me throughout my entire life. You know, it takes a village, as they say, Uh, and I am no exception to that. Thank you for sharing that, Dr Kirksey, Um, talk a little bit about what it is that you do here at the university because you wear a lot of hats, you sit on a lot of committees and I know a lot of the times I know I’m in meetings or I run into people, and they’re always like, So y’all are residents life. And I’m like, Yeah, we’re just We’re residents life. It’s like, Yeah, but y’all are more than residents life. And I’m like, Well, that has a lot to do with our leadership. And so I want to give the audience a chance to kind of get to hear from you. You know what it is that you do as senior director, and just and then we’ll go into your philosophy around, you know, leadership and all those different things as well. Yeah. I mean, you’re right, you’re right. That journey talk about, you know, housing and dining being, uh, uh, an important player on the university kind of campus, Uh, our ability and our privilege to be able to house, uh, students on the campus. But we do you know, of course, fulfilling the mission of keeping them safe and and trying to create inclusive and welcoming environment for all students. Um, you know, we also contribute to, uh, you know, academic success and support structure all around the university. So you talked about being on different committees and such, um, that’s a big part of it is making sure that we stay connected to the larger, uh, you know, campus mission and the values of the institution towards educating and supporting students. And so, you know, you and I, we sit on different committees related to academic success first, Gen. Um, you know, particular types of populations of students. Also, um, as we look at, you know, African American black student achievement, things like that, Um, and also looking at orientation, working, working there, uh, different types of initiatives through our learning communities that we have, you know, trying to create intentional partnerships around the university to advance the academic mission and all those support services to, of course, you know, when students are in crisis, you know, we come together with our partners around the campus also to brainstorm on ways that we can support through our housing. And even when students who are not living on the campus but maybe larger U T students who are living, um, off campus, you know, when there’s opportunities for us to support them, you know, we do so as well. And we had the fortune, uh, to be able to also have food under our portfolio, directly oversee that, you know, a pardon very closely, Um, with our senior director over food, Eric Geiger. And you know, we work really well together, the entire department does. You know, as we look at ways that we can just continue to help advance, You know, the mission of the university. Yeah. So how would you describe in the middle of all of that? How would you describe your leadership philosophy? Because I think that if you ask anybody that’s worked with you, whether it be directly or indirectly, the one thing that would would come up would be, You know, your philosophy and your approach to leading the folks that are in your area. How would you describe for our audience? Because, remember, we got students. We got faculty, staff, parents that Listen, how would you describe your leadership philosophy? Yeah, Before I do that, let me just actually go back for a second. I want to make sure, you know, just to share the piece of residents life being that department and situated within that larger housing and dining context. But residents like being responsible. Um, for, um, you know the safety Well, being the student engagement right of residential students, um, trying to provide, you know, outlets and resources and ways to connect them to the large University has a senior director. I’m largely responsible for helping to create that vision of, you know, kind of opened the show talking about our relationship and and how it is that, you know, you and I will talk And, uh, you know, we’ll create vision around, you know, how do we, uh, engage our student population? How do we serve our guests and vendors and visitors and people who come within our residents halls? And how do we serve the larger institutions? So a large part of my job is helping to create that vision for how we enacted and also connecting the vision of the university to what we do within residents life. And so for me, you know, um, you know, my leadership philosophy is kind of first among equals, right? I recognize the responsibility that I have to to demonstrate the types of, you know, qualities and expectations for performance that I have for my staff. Um, but I really do see that all of us playing equal an important role in making the business of residents life happened. Right? Um, it’s not just me alone saying what needs to happen in dictating that, and then individuals just following back. But I’m trying to inspire thinking on behalf of what it is that we can do and asking people to be a part of that, uh, in the co creation of knowledge, um, and figuring out what it is that we need to do, uh, to enact our mission and our values in the vision. And so for me, you know, staff should be able to look to, um, my example of whatever it is that I’m asking them to do, whether it’s, you know, hard work or, um, or start work. Or, you know, if I’m asking them to, you know, to work, to turn something around quickly because we need to, you know, provide some input into larger decision making at the university. Then, you know, I’m also on that call. You know what I mean? We’re getting it together together. Um, not just, you know, delegating it off and then saying, you know, let me know when you get there or done, you know? What part do you want to play? What part can you play? Um, and then how can I come in a little bit with an umbrella? You know, you kind of look, I kind of you my leadership, um, as as kind of like a house philosophy. Almost like you know what is the foundation that I need to be able to provide for the staff, So they’re all on good footing? Um, you know what are you know, what’s the roof? You know, what are the principles and the values that we are aspiring to achieve? What are the walls? Right, where the boundaries. Right, Where Some places that we need to consider, uh, some bridges that we need to build places that we, uh, need to stay within, you know, so that we were working within a context. Um, and then, really, everyone’s the architects right there. The architects, designers, um, they get to fill in the blank canvas, you know, it’s a shell, and then we bring life to it by what people contribute to it. You know, whether that’s, you know, the wallpaper on the wall, the wall colors, the furniture we put in there, you know, we want to walk this whole house thing out. Yeah, it’s It’s like going from the process of of making a house into a home, You know what I mean? And that’s the thing I like about, you know, with the work that we do like, it’s not just um we have operate residential operations, right? We have to have people in the halls, and we have to make sure that we’re providing a safe and an inclusive environment for our students, and we do. But then there’s also the other side of that. That’s when they’re here. What is the What is it that they get to do? And one thing that I’ve noticed that you give particular attention to which attracted me, uh, to the role, with your particular attention to the professional development of the folks on your team. Can you talk about what your philosophy is on professional development and why you spend? I mean, if I can be honest and you spend so much money and time and attention making sure that we all get that, um, why is that so important in your opinion? Yeah, well, you know, I think professional development can come in a lot of ways. Sometimes it involves, you know, using resources, you know, money, money, uh, for people to attend conferences. But there’s so many great assets, uh, and resources within the university. Also, you know, there’s ways to connect to, uh, programs that human resources do. We have so many talented, um, colleges, uh, that are also, uh, producing professional work out of their disciplines. You know, we have opportunities to partner and tap into those resources as well. And of course, you know, as individuals seek to be a part of a larger profession and working in the professional associations for which they, you know, their primary function is under, you know, they may need to go to conferences and get refreshed up. They may need to get licenses and credentials in order to stay current and to also have that level of expertise, uh, that that our stakeholders expect from us to be able to have, you know? So I am a big proponent of people self improving as a foundation, and sometimes that self improvement comes from, you know, a myriad of different ways. And sometimes it’s about getting credentials. Sometimes it’s about just getting a perspective, you know what I mean? It’s like, how can people challenge, uh, how they are and who they are and how they show up? Um, you know, how can I be a better version of myself today than I was yesterday? Uh, and then even better tomorrow And so really doing that critical self work to figure out, um, where are the areas that you can continue to improve while also operating within your strength? You know, I think individuals need to, um, you know, first view themselves as being successful and able and capable, um, and using the strengths and talents, um, you know, and in some ways, for some folks they consider to be the gifts, right, Maybe from a spiritual sense, the gifts that they were given and operating within that I think people exude their best Selves when they’re operating from their strength and their managing, you know, quote unquote weaknesses, right? Or areas for improvement. So it’s just about getting a perspective, and so sometimes it’s, you know, that perspective will lead you down the road of additional training. Sometimes it will lead you down the road of introspection. You know who you are and, uh, digging deeper to figure out how you how you can continue to improve. And the reason why I felt like that question was important. To ask you was because, you know, when I think about the parents that listen to this episode and they’re going to send their Children, uh, to come and live with us, Uh, at some capacity, whether it be in the residence halls or 2400 new aces or even our graduate and family housing. At some point, I want them to know the caliber of folks that are gonna be there. Some of us live in the buildings and in those spaces with their students. Uh, we show up every day, and more of us will be showing up every day as we continue to navigate back to campus. But I thought it was important to put that out there just because a lot of the times I feel I feel like when people hear residents like they connected to when they were in school. And that’s the only perspective they have. And so I’m like, No, it’s it’s different now. Uh, you know, it’s a little bit different. It’s not just the go in your room, go to bed and come out to eat. It’s like, No, we got entire, uh, learning agendas and strategies in place for you. And we got people with master’s degrees and Ph. D. S connecting with your students every day. So I thought that it was important to share not only your leadership philosophy, but also your professional development So people can see the work that goes into the work that we’re doing. Yeah, I mean, I mean, you’re so right. And, you know, I I think student support services, you know, kind of understood his earlier days and residents life and how we formed over time to be even more interconnected. Um, within the university context. And I think we’ve always been a profession that I cared about the needs of students and needed to provide, um, you know, food, water, shelter, safety and all those types of things through housing. But, yes, that has evolved as the profession has evolved in the individuals who occupy the positions has evolved. I’m very proud to say that we have a very, um, well educated, um, you know, solid. You know, quality, uh, skills professionals who work in including yourself. Dr. Johnson, you in, Uh, you know, residents life, and you’re right to say, you know, we have levels of staffing that are necessary, uh, to create, um, that engagement and and create and deliver the services that we do for students. You know, we have. You know, our resident assistance are student leaders. Um, our student employees. That’s consistent. Uh, you know, office assistance. Other people who are there, uh, important connectors. First line to our students every day, day in and day out, working and living with them. And we have, like, you mentioned our graduate assistants. Compass coordinators are accomplished coordinators who have their master’s degrees. Then we even have an assistant directors who oversee different areas of campus and through that network of professionals, you know, living in and operating the areas of campus, you know, we’re able to provide a greater level of service. Um, that that’s structuring provides for perspective. It provides for resourcing and making sure that we show up in the way that we need to Yeah, and thank you for responding to that. I want to shift gears for a second because, um, college campuses during 2020 obviously had to pivot. And I know that that’s not everybody’s favorite word because we used it a ton, Uh, in 2000 and 20 somebody even suggested in a meeting the other day. Can we retire? Pivot. Okay. But I wanted to talk to you or get your perspective and thoughts on what it was like to lead a residence life area during a pandemic. Like what? What was that like? Because I think that’s important for our audience to hear. Because a lot of times people that I run into, they assume and some and sometimes correctly assume it must have been tough for you all had a lot going on. And I’m like, Yeah, we did. But I also want them to hear the leadership perspective around why we respond, the way we respond to some of the thinking that went into, uh, some of the things that we did not necessarily to in depth, but just wanted to get your thoughts on what it was like overseeing a resident’s life operation during the pandemic. Yeah, well, you know, I think it was It was it was tough all around. You know, Dr Joseph, this is a This was an unprecedented time, you know, kind of in the in the at least the recent history or my history, you know, within higher education. Um, what we’re having to look at, um, learning in a whole new way. And I think, um, I think the toughest part was just not being able to activate all the different strategies and methodology for how we want to engage and work and support students. You know, um, and having to think about those things, maybe what felt like on a dime, you know, having to turn that around, I think what came of it, though, is a welcome opportunity for us to reimagine how we can be present for students in non traditional ways. Um and and certainly, I think our students had a lot to teach us during this time where they were, um, other masters of technology in many ways, that we’re learning to catch up with their innovative and in many ways and their social media platforms and different types of engagements. Uh, that they’re used to. And so I think higher education. Um, in general, um, learned a lot from the people that we serve during this time and for me, Um, it was all about, you know, wanting to maximize what we can offer during this time of kind of, uh, what grew to be hybrid kind of in person. In a way, you know, we had students on the campus all year long, Uh, and so we never really shut down. Shut down. You know, uh, we were serving people the whole time, but we had to do it in different ways. And I’m glad that we were able to, um, exercise care and safety during the pandemic. And we were able to, um, you know, provide a different type of housing for folks where they were able to, you know, distance themselves. And we put in, you know, procedures and protocols, uh, in the halls around sanitation and cleaning. Um, and also looked at how we used facilities to keep people safe, trying to maintain some level of interpersonal connection through small, you know, gathering. But also really using technology to stay connected. Um, you know, to all of our residents, And then I was really happy to see the campus in the division of Student Affairs in particular. Moved towards, um, you know, this past spring in the larger program that you know. And I know you were kind of a co chair around those divisional efforts as well, uh, seeing a lot of that happening a lot of different partners within Uhd university, housing and dining. We refer to as, uh, really helped out there as well around the entire division, Uh, student affairs. And so, um, that was really exciting. And our students responded really well, and it just reassured, I think me and and knowing that there’s still a desire to have that close personal connection. So I’m looking really forward to how we’re going to re establish ourselves in this new normal, um, as we move into the summer and through, uh, to the fall, uh, to look at how we get back some of the richness of what students may have been missing and craving, um, while still maintaining a level of safety, learning from this time period about ways that we can do things different. And you talk about the word pivot, you know, having to kind of change perspectives and positions, you know? Yeah, yeah, but I kind of see it, you know, as we need to be constantly and consistently adapted, right? I mean, more than just pivoting the pivoting in the movement. Yeah, definitely. Has people kind of tired? Um, but I think we need to maintain a flexible mind right around what we do. Um, in this pandemic has certainly taught us that. And so I hope that everyone carries that forward. Um, and thinking about all the things that we previously said work possible now became possible. Let’s keep these possibilities moving. You know what I mean? And let’s keep exploring where the areas for flexibility really stand. Because I think there, there. Mm. And you know, one of my favorite quotes from you during all of this was when I know a lot of schools where we were in a meeting together, and we were just talking about what a lot of people were doing and a lot of schools and no disrespect to any institutions. But people were scaling back. And I remember you looking at me going No, don’t scale back. Like, keep going like ramp it up. And I know a lot of people heard that, and we’re like, How is he going to do that? But I knew exactly what you were talking about. Talk to our audience because I know a lot of people. I get questions about this all the time, and they’re like, How did y’all manage to keep going and still put, you know, as we call around here, five Star Service and support and engagement opportunities for students out there in the midst of this. And I continue to tell people I was like, that was our leadership from Dr Tobias, who we had on a couple of weeks ago, uh, and then to to yourself just saying, Don’t scale back like, No, don’t don’t Don’t put minimal stuff out there. Ramp it up even where possible And you just kind of talked about Can you Can you talk a little bit more about Why? Why was that your first thought? Because a lot of people again were like, No, we’re doing what we can and you know, But for us, you were like, No, that’s not the standard. Well, here’s the well. I mean, here’s the deal. I mean, you can’t scale back when the needs are still great. You know what I mean? The pandemic didn’t take away. Uh, students needs to be supported and engaged if anything increased them. I mean, I think the message was according you know, I mean, we have to be responsive to the needs of the students that we serve and the time created. Um, such a newness. Had it required us to go into, uh, kind of overdrive mode. You know what I mean? We have to more out there than we previously had been because we needed to do things different and also fulfill the needs and the wants and the desires and all the realities of the new normal that emerged as we continue to engage in. I mean, we were kind of, you know, I think there’s an expression kind of, you know, building the plane as you’re flying in some ways. Oh, yes, there’s some. There’s some foundational pieces that never change about how we deliver service. But things had to be adjusted. And so I think the only appropriate message at a time like this, um, is keep going. Ramp it up. Let’s, um let’s refocus our energies on making sure we’re meeting the needs now. You know, you know, people may hear that and say, Well, you know, folks need to also take heed to their mental health and you know, in balance and all those types of things. And I’m with that, too, and I also share that message, you know, alongside this message of continuing to provide both things have to be done, and both things can be done. It’s about how you differently do, Mm, Not not not do differently. Right? And I think that was the piece that, you know, we could not abide. We cannot abide ourselves to be not doing things catch differently, Do them. So we’re clear about this. Was was getting met with some resistance because I’m like, you know, we still have a program to run, right? Have to figure out how we do that. Um, and I was just so pleased with the ways that not only our staff responded, but also how our students responded, right? We never gave up on us so we could not give up on them. Right? That’s true. And you’re absolutely right. You know, we had Robert on the show in November. That was one of the things that he talked about was just the fact that it’s just been amazing to see the students response and the campus community. You know, everything we’ve put out there, you know, it’s been met with overwhelming positivity. I mean, we just did destination spring break a few weeks ago, and the campus community from parents and visitors. Everybody was just so amazed at the fact that we’re working hard to still engage during this pandemic. And I know that there’s parents that we’re making the decision on where to send their students because of that week. And we had two parents tell us that personally that Oh yeah, my daughter’s going here. My son’s going here now because if you all are taking care of people like this during a pandemic, well, I know my kid is going to be in good hands. And so yeah, that to me that was the ultimate compliment, knowing that because we stuck to your vision stuck to the plan and it was tough but managing to do it, I think that that was you were spot on and what you were saying in the differently doing it was definitely different. But we still did it. And I appreciate you saying that. So our students are our heroes. They’re you know, Dr Students are the real heroes and the staff showed up their heroes to not just our staff, but all this happened the department, right from food service to facilities to our to our HR to our business services to our I t. you know, everyone was showing up, including our team. But, you know, when I think about what really got us through, I do think about the students, because if it were not for them, right, we’re doing what we were doing. And they had enough wherewithal. They had enough, uh, courage. They had enough desire and drive to have that college experience. And they saw housing and dining as being foundational to that. And they showed up. And even those who did not show up that would have wanted to show up, you know, understand and respect the choices they had to make with their families and what they perceive to be their needs and their safety and at the time, totally get that I’m looking forward to having them back or having them on for the first time. Uh, no matter where students were in or out of our residents halls and apartments, they showed up for the campus. They showed up for the institution. They still want to get engaged. And so the only right thing to do, in turn, is to make sure we show up with. And that’s another interesting thing about what we do is the fact that we don’t just serve the students that live with us. Um, why is that important? Uh, because I get asked that question all the time. They’re like, Wait, wait, wait. You work in residence Life. I’m like, I do. They’re like, but the students that are attending that event were majority people that live in Riverside or in different parts of the city. And I’m like, Yeah, I know. And they’re like, What does your boss think about that? I was like, it was his idea he signed. He signed the check for the event. So why do you feel like that’s important, Especially at a school like the University of Texas at Austin, 105,000 students were the heart of Austin, Texas. Why is supporting everybody? Uh, so important? Especially when were our primary focus is people who live in the spaces that we own. Yeah, well, you know, I really, um, give a lot of credit to our vice president and dean of students. Dr. Santee arranges Lily around the vision around making sure that the division of Student Affairs really sees itself as one that serves all students right and from her vision is enacted our vision through our our assistant vice president, Dr Maryland Tedious, who also calls on us to be good campus citizens. Which means that, you know, we show up for our colleagues, uh, in ways that we can continue to support their efforts at enriching students lives and on the academic side and also the non academic side. Um, so that’s why it’s important because, you know, longhorns or Longhorns, no matter where they live. And we are professionals that are situated in the context of university, housing and dining. So, of course, we have a primary mission and purpose to serving the students who live with us. We also have ability and capacity to show up and be present for other students as well. And that’s why I see myself and I see the team, and I see our efforts as belonging to the profession of student affairs. We belong to the profession of student affairs and student affairs work, uh, is endless. Um, it is boundary spanning. Um, you know, uh, it is fluid. And we will always prioritize the primary mission towards serving those who live with us and pay to live with us. Um, and also, we will see ourselves as the professionals that we are with a larger mission towards serving all longhorns wherever and whenever we can do that. Yeah. Thank you for saying that. That’s a shout out to the student affairs profession, for sure. I love the way you captured that. What can parents, family, students, faculty, staff that are listening to this episode? What can they expect from residents? Life in the days ahead. I know it’s April and we’re approaching graduation season, and a lot of people are like, OK, they’re probably go on a vacation and dial it back a little bit. But I’m like, yeah, right. How we move. No, no. You know, we’re gonna go strong to the end, you know, Okay, to the end of the semester and even, you know, through the summer and what we’re able to provide, you know, the campus is still evaluating and looking at how we’re gonna operate, you know, within the summer and how we’re going to operate as we prepare to come back for the fall. But, you know, university leadership has already signalled a strong return. And so we’ll see the ways in which will have to, um, implement new policies or practices and how we’ll have to move, uh, differently. But we’re gonna show up, we’re gonna be present and, you know, hoping that everything continues to go. Well, uh, in terms of lower transmission, uh, infection. And ultimately, you know, decorates with covid 19. And, um, so that, uh, individuals hopefully are You know, if they’re able to and wanting to get in the vaccine, keeping themselves safe through their choices, um, and and setting up a situation where we can come back. Um, I want to say to normal, right, Because we talked about that being the new normal. We have a new normal is gonna be coming up, but coming back to in person education and some kind of a hybrid model, I’m sure you know, successfully. And so you know, parents, families, you know, you all can expect that. We’re gonna, um I think as the this generation that we’re gonna go hard. Yes. You gotta go hard for your students and for your your Children. We know how important they are to you. They’re important to us. Um, and we’re gonna do everything that we can to make sure we meet their needs and their wants and, uh, in their interests. You know, during that time, you know, that’s why it’s important not to just surf, you know, uh, and just kind of continue to escape. We’re not We’re not gonna escape. We’re gonna We’re gonna climb. We’re gonna move up because the needs Like I said before, the needs don’t change. If anything, they have increased. We have to step up to respond to that and also continue to innovate. Right? Because if there were not a pandemic, you know, we would still be needed to figure out ways to grow and to learn and, um, to challenge ourselves to be a better version of who we were yesterday and even we will be tomorrow. Right? So that stuff doesn’t change. And so, you know, expecting the days ahead, Uh, more great things to come. I appreciate that. I appreciate it. I think the last question that I have for you would be, uh, because you kind of answered it a little bit, but I want to give you a chance to just elaborate one last time. Uh, for those parents who are listening and considering considering letting their kids stay with us. Why should they choose us? Why should they choose U h d? I’m gonna let you take us home with that one. Well, you know, the city of Boston has a lot of great things to offer. Um, and I think the University of Texas at Austin, um, is among its, you know, it’s a jewel. And ut Austin, I’ve been here 5.5 years. Um, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of being here. Um, it’s a magnificent place. Um, where just first rate, um, research and service is conducted first rate programs. Um, you know, the highest caliber thinking about the ways in which we lead the world. Remember becoming immediately attracted to the motto. You know, what starts here changes the world. And I found through my experience, really, uh, does and this university is serious about his business. But I think about university housing and dining and all the things that we’ve talked about so far today. Um, you know, there’s no doubt in my mind that living on campus is a transformative type of experience. It’s not just the transactional, this transformative, and I recognize that it, You know, it comes at a cost, and not everyone can assume that cost. And so we we do get that. My hope is that students are able to find ways, um, through support loans, um, grants other types of ways that they can, um, have the experience, even if it’s for 123 or four years. Um, because there is such a close connection to what we do and what services are provided on the canvas. And so it’s foundational in many ways, and students can get a lot of that even if they don’t live with us. But the ready made connections that we have on campus kind of speed up the process of having students be able to access those resources. And when students are struggling to figure out how to navigate, we’re there for them. We’re there for them in that way. Uh, that’s personal, and it’s up close. Um, and we talked about the varying levels of staff who make themselves available, including myself to students. Um, you know, even within my role as senior director, you know, I choose to engage, um, in the academic space as an assistant professor of practice in the program for higher education leadership and also, you know, working through with you in the fall, right? We work within undergraduate studies, you know, we’re creating, um, opportunities to engage in and outside the classroom. Um, even though our primary duty is to housing, Um, but that’s how we are as connectors. And so I think parents, family, students, you all will find that we don’t just care about your housing needs. We care about your whole needs and our professional staff and our students staff is uniquely positioned to be able to help you get connected in all areas. That will be important to you. So I think, you know, rest assured to know you have, you know, members on housing team who have connections and involvement with other places on the campus backgrounds within the academic areas as well. And as you mentioned, you know, we have a very well educated staff who have pursued degrees not only just in higher education, but also business and communication degrees and various things. I myself have a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science, masters and organizational communication, and a doctorate in higher end leadership administration. You know, so the experiences are there, you know, and when we’re able to bring all that to the table. And so I just think it’s so important that students find the place where they’re going to be centered and set up for success. And I sure hope that university housing and dining is the place they choose. Listen, that’s the best way to close us out, folks. Thank you, Doctor Kirksey, for taking the time to visit with us today. Stick around. Gotta do some wrap up stuff at the end of the recording, but for everybody else, continue listening and supporting and subscribing to the show. Also, you can access us or wherever you find your podcasts. Apple podcast, Spotify stitcher and also on the liberal Arts Instructional Technology studio website, which is also the studio that edits and publishes every episode. So shout out to Jacob Weiss and his team over in the late area. So again, this has been the leadership innovation ventures and entrepreneurship podcast. I’m your host, Brandon Jones, and we’ll see you all next time. Take care. We hope you enjoyed today’s episode to catch the next installment. Be sure to follow us on Spotify apple podcasts, Google podcasts and stitcher. This podcast was recorded and edited in collaboration with the L. A. I. T s Development Studios Audio Department. More information can be found at liberal arts dot utexas dot edu slash la It’s the intro song was composed by Ian Herrera, and you can find his work at ian herrera dot com. The Outro song was composed by Noah Keller, and you can find more of his work at noah. D Keller dot com. 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