This month, DOSA hosted their annual awards, where several members of our housing and dining team were recognized for their outstanding work! Elian Mackey, Hammons Hall Director, received the Outstanding New Exempt Staff Member award. Tina Musil, Kentwood Receptionist, received the Outstanding New Non-exempt Staff Member Award. Teri Trickey, Director of Catering, received the Outstanding Long-standing Staff Member award. Our Chartwells Dining team received the Innovation by a Team, New Program or Initiative award for their work on the Bears Share Program. Congratulations to all of our award winners! 

Residence Hall Association (RHA) hosted their annual Fall Leadership Day on Friday, September 11. This is a training workshop planned by RHA’s Leadership Development Coordinator, Lilly Johnson, for all hall council executive board members to learn their roles and responsibilities of their positions. The day was superhero themed and filled with games and teambuilding alongside training and informational presentations. Heitz House Hall Council collected the most amount of spirit points through the day, making them the winning team in the spirit competition and earning themselves a homecoming decorating supply basket! Overall, approximately 75 students attended the workshop and 13 individuals presented sessions. Thank you to Lilly for the hard work planning this event to help set up hall councils for success and thank you to all the presenters who made the training workshop possible! 

Liz Duvall is a new Hall Director at Mo State this year and she is doing a fantastic job building community within Hutchens and Scholars! The weekly tradition of Sippin’ Social on Mondays at 8 p.m. have brought residents together and fostered connections between residents and team members. Under Liz’s leadership RAs have opted into special projects such as representing the team at Residence Hall Association (RHA) meetings on Mondays at 4 p.m., decorating the lobbies of both residence halls, capturing moments as historian, serving on recognition team, and more. RAs have been motivated and empowered by Liz to cheer on student athletes who reside in Hutchens at their first home game with fat heads, decorating the lobby to welcome future bears for perspective student Showcase event, and working with the campus garden to get flower stems so everyone their team recognizes gets a flower. The staff and student experience is positive thanks to Liz’s efforts. She’s made herself a champion of student success and a fierce Bear supporter already by supporting students as they navigate roommates and the transition to college and attending many campus events: team socials, RHA welcome bingo event, men’s soccer first seams game (Bears win 3-1!), home opener football game (Bears win 48-14!), attending other residence halls building tradition events, and driving Honors Living-Learning Community residents to an off-campus event! Way to go Liz!  

Leah Walcott previously worked as a Night Host for 15 years in Wells, Sunvilla, and Monroe, and is excited to return as a Night Host in Blair-Shannon! Leah is currently taking classes and pursuing a certificate in Professional Writing, while also running a small business designing jewelry. Leah shared, “I think the role of a night host is vital. Aside from helping to provide a safe and secure environment, a night host can be there to answer questions for young adults who are unfamiliar with campus. I find a great deal of satisfaction with being a part of making a new environment a slightly less intimidating place to be.” Welcome back Leah! We are so happy to have you back on our team.