Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Berry named director of Residence Life
 Laurie Berry, associate director of Residence Life, has been chosen from among 19 applicants for the position of director of Residence Life. Her appointment is effective May 1, 2007. “We are excited to announce that Ms. Laurie Berry has been selected as the director for Residence Life,” said John Deem, associate vice president for Student Affairs. “Her 17 years of housing experience has provided her excellent skills in preparation for this opportunity. We are confident that she will provide enthusiastic leadership and creativity to the resident life community.” Berry has been acting director of Residence Life since December 2006. She continues to build upon what her predecessors began. “The foundation we have is solid and one that is ready to go to the next level of service to our residents,” she said. Recent developments in Residence Life include a premium housing option for students and planned renovations to the McDonald West Recreation Center. Berry said, “We are doubling the size of the ‘McWest’ Recreation Center and doing substantial renovations,” she said. “That will start in mid-May. We hope to have the building open in January 2008.” The Super Single housing offered to students for the first time in the 2006-07 academic year will be expanded from one to three buildings in 2007-08. “We want to continue to meet the diverse needs of our resident population. Some of that we’re accomplishing through our Super Single concept,” Berry said. This premium housing option offers students a private room, and one roommate instead of three. Instead of two single beds in a room, the Super Single option offers one double bed, a club chair, and a mini entertainment center. “It’s fairly popular with students,” Berry said. “It costs more but they like the option and the privacy.” Berry joined USI in 1992 and has held several positions at USI, all within housing: Residence Life program coordinator (1992-1994); assistant director of University Housing (1994-1998); assistant director of Judicial Affairs (1998-2000); and assistant director of Operations and acting associate director of Residence Life (2000-2001). She became associate director of Residence Life in July 2001. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and a Master of Arts in Education in student personnel services from Western Kentucky University. Berry has been a member of the board of directors of the Great Lakes Association for College and University Housing Officers since 2003 and serves as chair of its Gender Education Awareness Resources Committee. She also is a member of the Association for College and University Housing-International and the Association for Graduates of Student Affairs – Western Kentucky University. |
Copyright © 2013 University of Southern Indiana. All rights reserved.