Talking Stick - March/April 2017 - 47

Publications shown above are foundational ones that serve as the basis for any housing
professional's library. Other resources throughout the article are designed to stimulate
your thinking, inform your practices, and motivate you to explore other publications.

describes the actual lives and fears
of custodians, is powerful and could
be used in an RA class, staff meeting
discussion, or an in-service designed
to learn how to better enhance the role
of custodians.

AVP: Leading from the
Unique Role of Associate/
Assistant Vice President
for Student Affairs, Amy
Hecht and Jason Pina
(2016, 224 pages).
Overview: This book examines the
increasingly common associate/
assistant vice president for student
affairs position. It provides pragmatic
strategies, suggestions, and ideas
designed to assist both aspiring
and current AVPs. These real life
narratives written by student affairs
vice presidents explore topics
ranging from interviewing and core
competencies to politics and balance.
Excellent worksheets and assessments
help the reader personalize their
career development towards becoming
an AVP.
Application: This is a valuable
resource for many, especially directors
of housing who are considering the
AVP position. If read from start to
end, the book mirrors the life cycle of
an AVP and can help prepare you for

this position. Readers can also focus
on particular chapters to learn how
to increase their competence in that
particular area. The AVP checklist,
the AVP Self-Assessment, and the
Productivity Planner can easily be used
to ensure your success as an AVP.

Multiculturalism
on Campus: Theory,
Models, and Practices for
Understanding Diversity
and Creating Inclusion,
Michael Cuyjet, Mary
Howard-Hamilton,
Diane Cooper, and Chris Linder
(2016, 432 pages).
Overview: As with the first edition
of this text, which presented
theories and models for working
with and understanding various
student populations, this edition
adds to the literature with a new
cultural framework, a discussion
of intersectionality, updated best
practices, and additional information
about culturally competent practice.
Application: This is a great
book for educating yourself about
various student groups. The text
offers many instructional strategies
(case studies, discussion questions,
classroom resources) that could be
effective in training RAs about student

groups living in their residential
communities. As it is designed,
housing staff can use the entire text or
identify selected chapters for working
with student groups pertinent to
their campus populations. It is an
excellent read for new professionals
and graduate students seeking to
broaden their knowledge base on
student populations. It could even be
used as a supplemental text for an
undergraduate RA course.

Understanding Ourselves
The Ideal Team Player:
How to Recognize and
Cultivate the Three
Essential Virtues, Patrick
Lencioni (2016, 218
pages).
Overview: Lencioni uses the structure
of a fable followed by theory in order
to build on what he discussed in his
book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team:
A Leadership Fable. The current book
focuses on the individual rather
than the team and discusses how to
identify, hire, and cultivate individuals
who possess three essential virtues:
They are humble, hungry, and smart.
The book also offers practical tools
to determine if individuals have the
MARCH + APRIL 2017

47
Talking Stick - March/April 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - March/April 2017
