Author: Sean Watson

Sean Watson (he/they) has been supporting residential communities as a full time professional since 2012, and currently works at the University of Rochester as an Associate Director in Residential Life and Housing Services. Sean completed their MS in Student Affairs from the University of Rochester in 2012, received their MS in Human Resource Development from Rochester Institute of Technology, and is currently pursuing their PhD in Higher Education at the University of Rochester. Additionally, Sean supports the interfaith community at the University of Rochester by serving as the pagan chaplain. When they aren’t running around at work, they enjoy spending time volunteering in their communities with various nonprofits, hanging out with their family and cats, drinking coffee, and going on bike rides.

Practical Tips for Being Trauma-Informed as a Residence Hall Director

The role of a Residence Hall Director encompasses various helping professions, requiring emotional support, goal-setting, and difficult conversations. Implementing a trauma-informed approach emphasizes safety, communication, and relationship-building. Practical strategies for fostering this environment include prioritizing psychological safety, educating staff, and maintaining predictable communications, ultimately fostering growth and dignity among students.

February 27, 2026

The Hall Director’s Journey: What the Fool Tarot Card Teach Us About Residence Life

Every year (yes, academic AND calendar) I like to spend some time with my tarot cards as a point of reflection on what I’ve done and where I might need to go to live my best life. I think a lot about the messages that we can learn from the Major Arcana, which tell an... Continue Reading →

February 10, 2026

How Change Models Help Us Better Support the Student Experience in Residence Life

Residence life is one of the most change-saturated environments on a college campus. Students arrive during moments of transition, staff juggle evolving expectations, and institutions regularly introduce new priorities, policies, and pressures. In this context, change can either feel intentional and supportive or confusing and destabilizing, often simultaneously. Change models provide residence life professionals with... Continue Reading →

January 3, 2026

Learning Reconsidered to Support Human Connection in the Halls

The Institute for the Curricular Approach in October was more than just a professional development event; it was a reaffirmation of our roles as a community of educators who are fundamentally invested in the holistic growth of our students. Engaging in the Institute provided a vital opportunity to pause, reflect, and collaboratively strategize on how... Continue Reading →

December 16, 2025

Magic of the Midpoint: Reimaging the Rest of the Semester

The midpoint of the first semester often arrives quietly. Between midterms, conduct meetings, and fall programming, we might suddenly realize that the semester is half over, and with it, the feeling that our course is already set. The communities are established, the RAs have found their rhythms, and the energy of opening has been replaced... Continue Reading →

October 14, 2025

Democracy in the Residence Halls: A Living Laboratory for Citizenship and Dialogue

You’ll have to indulge me, as I have been worrying a lot about the state of the nation lately, and one of the ways I can feel like I am doing something worthwhile is by thinking about how my work in residence life has supported students being good people when they leave our halls. When... Continue Reading →

September 30, 2025

Parenting in the Halls: The Beautiful, Bumpy Blur

When I first became a parent, I thought I had a good handle on chaotic schedules, emotional outbursts, and sleep deprivation. After all, I work in residence life! I’d managed crisis situations at 2 a.m., mediated roommate conflicts that could rival a soap opera, and helped launch countless student leaders. Parenting shares a lot of... Continue Reading →

September 3, 2025

Spilling the Tea: Steeped in ResLife

Residence life professionals know that our days (and nights) are filled with intense moments that demand presence, clarity, and care. Tea, in its diverse forms, has been a quiet companion to humans for millennia, offering calm, focus, or celebration depending on what the moment calls for. Here are six varieties of tea to pair with... Continue Reading →

July 29, 2025

Living the Lesson: The Importance of Community Involvement for Residence Life Professionals

stylized image of people holding hands in a circle

In the world of residence life, we spend a lot of time encouraging students to “get involved,” “build community,” and “live their values.” We organize programming, lead dialogues, and guide residents toward civic engagement with the hope that these experiences will help shape them into thoughtful, connected members of the broader society. But how often... Continue Reading →

July 11, 2025

Metaphors and Move-in, or How Writing A Limerick Lightens Living On

In a profession where every day brings a new challenge—mediating conflicts, fostering community, supporting students in crisis—creative thinking isn’t a luxury. It’s essential. As a residence life professional, I lean on an invaluable tool I learned in my undergraduate education to sharpen that creativity: poetry. For me, reading and writing poetry isn’t just a personal... Continue Reading →

June 3, 2025

Building Relationships Through Annual Feedback for RAs

I recently read The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer and percolated on the ideas of reciprocity in human connections. In "The Serviceberry: An Economy of Abundance," the author, a botanist by training, explores how ecological relationships can inspire a shift from extractive, scarcity-driven economies to systems rooted in reciprocity, mutual flourishing, and gratitude. Using the... Continue Reading →

May 5, 2025

ResLife Needs To Let Go: From Burnout to Balance: Redefining Success in Residence Life

ResLife Needs To Let Go Of - by Sean Watson

Residence life professionals often joke about the perennial stress of the job: late-night duty calls, back-to-back meetings, endless emails, and an overwhelming list of responsibilities. While humor can be a healthy coping mechanism, it also hints at a larger cultural issue (one that certainly has been highlighted by work culture during and since the pandemic... Continue Reading →

January 5, 2025

From Spreadsheets to Student Stories: Assessment with Care

Assessment in student affairs is often associated with data collection, reports, and metrics—a necessary but sometimes uninspiring aspect of the field. While spreadsheets and surveys are critical (and sometimes interesting to nerds…) tools, focusing solely on these parts makes us lose sight of why assessment matters. At its core, assessment is not a data project;... Continue Reading →

December 6, 2024

Wherever You Go, There You RA

Adapted from: Wherever You Go, There You Are College life is a whirlwind. Between classes, work, and the ever-present social scene, it's easy to feel overwhelmed as a residential life student staff member. You're not just a student anymore – you're a leader, a confidant, an event planner, an academic advisor, and sometimes, a crisis counselor... Continue Reading →

June 12, 2024

What is The Future of RDs? – A Need To Shape Our Efforts By A Commitment To Love

This blog series features different writers responding to the prompt, "What is the future of the RD position and role?" Read More From The Series The role of Residence Directors has been undergoing a transformative and challenging journey, as we negotiate the Great Resignation, an upended employment landscape, and changing expectations for navigating success in work and... Continue Reading →

February 12, 2024

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