Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 45

Oliver: Operations is made up of all of these subcultures, most of which are male dominated. Technology falls into that male-dominated culture, too, and there’s a strong technological influence in operations work. Magura: I’ve created a niche for
myself for finding new ways to utilize technology to meet the needs of today’s students. But there have been numerous times I’ve attended a technology conference and been one of only a few women there. When that happens, I feel an added pressure.

that doesn’t make it easier to manage others’ expectations. I want to make sure students have a voice in processes, but that doesn’t always mean I can give them exactly what they want.

as a mentor. I work with an amazing woman, Rita Camara, who has been doing assignments for almost 20 years. She has so much insight, not only into the field, but also into how to work with different and sometimes difficult people.

Oliver: My biggest challenge is the
common misunderstanding of our work. So many people see our role as being about processes rather than people, when the reality is that people are at the heart of every decision and process. I think that’s more difficult as a woman in the field than a man because people make assumptions about your priorities and personality when you do this work.

Oliver: I try to choose mentors based on experience and not functional area. They may not always understand the work I do, but they appreciate the 35,000-foot view of what I’m trying to accomplish and the challenges. This also helps me appreciate others’ experiences since these mentors may open my eyes too. Magura: To know I’ve made some impact on a student’s ability to be successful outweighs a lot of the other challenges. I also get a lot of pleasure out of taking a process and reevaluating it to meet the needs of our current students. Students aren’t the same as they were 20 years ago; why would our processes stay the same? Surgens: I never have a mundane
day. There is always something new and exciting happening in this line of work. The best part is that I have the ability to change someone’s life in my role. I meet with so many students who are unhappy, and I get the opportunity to help them and make their lives better.

Oliver: I struggle when it feels like I’m not being taken seriously because of my sex. A person can be good – or bad – at their job without the qualifier of their genetics. If I’m not good at what I am doing, I hope people will tell me that in a way that’s about my work and not about who I am. Magura: It’s not easy to be a person who has to tell others “no” a lot. Upholding policy for residents and prospective students doesn’t always make you the most popular, regardless of how customer service-oriented you are. Surgens: Some of my biggest
challenges have to do with confidence and trust. It’s easy to let someone else’s thoughts about you and your abilities get into your head. I know I am good at my job, and I know I put students first and work hard for them. I also am very aware of the biases against and underlying thoughts about a woman in this role, and I admit it gets to my confidence at times.

Magura: I work with some amazing
women who remind me daily that the work I do is valuable. This support means so much to me, and I need to acknowledge it and thank them for it more often. I’ve also found a community on Twitter who work in housing operations and understand the complexity of the work we do. Being able to bounce ideas their way really keeps me grounded.

Oliver: I have a female colleague who
works in housing operations at another institution. We worked as residence directors together for four years, so we’ve “grown up” together, both in very traditional residence life roles and now navigating being women in housing operations. The shared experience has provided me with a way of measuring growth, sharing ideas and resources, and having a safe space to discuss challenges.

Oliver: I’ve been in this position for
less than a year. It’s an exciting time to help staff and students reframe their experiences with our department and help our staff reframe why we do things the way we do. Seeing how many students say hello to me on campus or stop me with questions is affirming that housing operations is always about the people. ts
July + August 2012

Magura: I agree that confidence is a big concern. I’m confident in my work, but

Surgens: I like to look outside my department for mentorship, but when you work with someone who is phenomenal, it’s silly not to use her

45



Talking Stick - July/August 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - July/August 2012

Talking Stick - July/August 2012
Contents
New Member Highlight
Vision
Just In
Your ACUHO-I
Transitions
Res Life
Business Operations
Calendar
Shaping Our Buildings to Shape Our Students
Looking Up Down Under
Coversations
First Takes
Reporting Out
Welcome
Snapshot
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - BB1
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - BB2
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Talking Stick - July/August 2012
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Cover2
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 1
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 2
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Contents
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - New Member Highlight
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 5
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Vision
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 7
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Just In
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 9
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 10
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 11
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 12
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Your ACUHO-I
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 14
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Transitions
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Res Life
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 17
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 18
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 19
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Business Operations
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 21
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 22
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 23
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 24
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Calendar
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Shaping Our Buildings to Shape Our Students
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 27
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 28
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 29
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 30
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 31
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 32
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 33
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Looking Up Down Under
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 35
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 36
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 37
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 38
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 39
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 40
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 41
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 42
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 43
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Coversations
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 45
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - First Takes
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 47
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Reporting Out
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 49
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 50
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 51
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 52
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 53
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Welcome
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - 55
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Snapshot
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Cover3
Talking Stick - July/August 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20121112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20120910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20120708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20120506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20120304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20111112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20110910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20110708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20110506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20110304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20110102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20100910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20100506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20100304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20100102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20091112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20090910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20090708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20090506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20090304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick_20090102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/acuho/talkingstick0508
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com