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What makes on-campus living such a transformative part of the college experience? In this month’s Higher Ed Careers interview, Andrew Hibel, COO of HigherEdJobs, speaks with Don Yackley, assistant vice president for student affairs at the University of Houston. With more than three decades in student housing, Yackley shares the powerful impact housing professionals can have on students, how the field has evolved to meet changing student needs, and why residential life remains a cornerstone for success in higher education.
Andrew Hibel, HigherEdJobs: You began your journey in housing as a resident assistant in the late 1980s. What about that first role convinced you that housing could be more than just a student job and instead a lifelong profession?
Don Yackley, assistant vice president for student affairs, University of Houston: My first role was as resident assistant-, in 1988 at Forest Hall at Southern Oregon University, and it was highly challenging with big highs and deep lows. While I loved much of that work as a student leader, a great deal of the work also weighed heavily on me… working with challenging student behavioral situations, student mental health issues, and alcohol and drug concerns, and policy enforcement had me questioning if this was work I wanted to continue engaging in.
When I was invited back the next year as a resident assistant, I decided I would likely resign from my position over the summer. That summer, I received a letter from one of my residents that basically said “thank you for saving my life.” Unknown to me, this student had been considering killing themselves and shared that because I stopped by to say hello, to engage in conversation, to make a small connection — that made a difference, and they did not hurt themselves.
This small act, performed by thousands of resident assistants and student leaders every day at schools across the country and the world, can have a profound impact. That letter was a rare gift — a reminder that a strong sense of mission and purpose combined with the values of care and relationship are catalysts for success for students, for teams, and for yourself.
I feel so fortunate to have received that gift and have carried it with me on my journey from student leader to new professional to “seasoned” professional. While my roles, duties, and responsibilities have changed through the years, at the very core I have always been motivated by the fact that my work in student affairs, and specifically student housing, has always been about making an impact, helping others be successful, and building relationships so that students and colleagues know they are cared about and belong. If you can find a career that meets your basic needs and also fuels you with a sense of purpose, then you are winning.
Hibel: For someone who has never considered a career in residential life, what makes it such a vital part of the college experience — for both students and the professionals who support them?
Yackley: On a fundamental level, living with other students can profoundly impact your learning through discussions about academic coursework, learning about other students’ experiences, culture, and values — all while learning about yourself. Being in community can create powerful social networks, foster deep engagement and competencies, and promote belonging that helps students be successful while at school and in life after they leave.
We know that students with strong social connections, who are involved and engaged in activities, and who have a strong sense of belonging and self-efficacy will thrive — and living on campus supports all those things. The professionals that work with students on campus get a front-row seat to student challenges, struggles, growth, and success. They can be exposed to every aspect of student affairs work through their housing positions.
Hibel: How does working in housing give professionals a front-row seat to student success in ways they might not expect?
Yackley: Work in student housing is unique; you are involved in the lives of students 24 hours a day and often year-round. This work allows you to see and impact the whole student. Our work balances a mission of student development with customer service, and while it is primarily about helping students be academically successful, it’s the successes outside of the classroom that can be remarkably rewarding. Seeing and helping students grow, develop leadership skills, manage conflicts, practice critical thinking, and advance career competencies can be incredibly rewarding. It is a privilege to work with students where they live.
Hibel: Your career has taken you from entry-level hall director roles to serving as an assistant vice president. What skills, experiences, and association involvement most shaped your journey, and how can early-career professionals position themselves for growth in housing?
Yackley: Core to my journey has been staying connected with my fundamental values of treating people with care, putting mission and people first, and always being OK with not being the smartest person in the room. Approaching people and situations with respect for my strengths and skills and also humility in what others have to offer has been essential.
The work, the good ideas, the solutions to problems, and the credit never have to be about me — but always have to be about serving our students, our mission, and our values.
Additionally, my biggest career rewards have been when I have been willing to say yes to things that might be intimidating or activate my imposter syndrome. I said yes to that job in a part of the country I thought I’d never go, yes to apply for that position that would push me to do things I had not done before, yes to accepting that professional development opportunity — leadership position, presentation, committee assignment — that intimidated me. Saying yes to these things has always given me big adventures and big rewards.
Hibel: You’ve worked in housing for more than three decades across multiple institutions. What motivates you to continue dedicating your career to this field?
Yackley: Are you calling me old? There is no secret here — my work in student housing provides a strong sense of purpose for me. I personally connect my values with the mission and values of my university. Additionally, the people I am fortunate to work with and learn from make coming to work easy. And finally, there are always new challenges and initiatives to work on, so you are never bored.
Hibel: Housing is a 24/7 operation with unique demands. What challenges might surprise someone new to the profession?
Yackley: I think new professionals can get very excited about diving into extra involvement opportunities related to work and can get stretched thin easily. Additionally, when your work is involved with the full lives of students, you encounter some very heart-wrenching situations.
A big challenge is prioritizing your well-being and self-care while learning and excelling at your job as a priority before expanding into too many extra responsibilities or professional opportunities. Create a solid base of job excellence before expanding — but then absolutely do try new things and embrace new involvement opportunities.
Hibel: In just the past 10 years, what significant changes or trends have you seen in residential life and housing, and how do you think they’re shaping the student experience today?
Yackley: I think between how technology continues to have a greater role in all of our lives and since the COVID pandemic, our students have a greater desire for community connection — and also students are arriving to campus needing more support on how to build social connections, how to manage conflict and well-being, and how to develop a self-efficacy mindset.
This is especially challenging as many of our student staff and even our professionals are encountering some of the same needs and challenges. Cost of education, including housing, continues to be a challenge for students, and all of these can impact the college experience.
We know that some of the most compelling factors in student success — including retention and graduation — continue to be supportive social connection, engagement in activities like clubs, events, and a campus job, and sense of belonging with the university. Professional and student staff working in student housing are critical players in those factors.
