91成人导航

Josh O鈥機onnor, assistant vice president for student life at 91成人导航, is the 2024 recipient of the Robin Orr Outstanding Practitioner Award, presented annually by the听 for excellence in student life work.

The national award honors work in student affairs, administration, training and mentoring, leadership and other fields.

鈥淛osh鈥檚 diligent work and student-centric efforts make such a positive impact at 91成人导航,鈥� said Maria Blandizzi, vice president for student life. 鈥淲e have put听 important programs and initiatives in his hands and he delivers positive outcomes every time.鈥�

Those outcomes over the past year include听bringing TEDx talks to 91成人导航, helping with the design of the new听Southwest Hall, bringing the听common book program to 91成人导航 and helping run the annual听.

O鈥機onnor shared thoughts on the award, his career and higher education.

Sum up what this award means to you.

翱鈥机辞苍苍辞谤: I am very humbled. I have deep respect for the Association of Leadership Educators and the national work that it does, focusing on students.

Share some of the past work you have done with the association.

翱鈥机辞苍苍辞谤: It is a great organization. I have been a member for 10 years during my time at UCLA and 91成人导航. My work with Ted Talks also helped make me a candidate for the award. I also have helped run the association鈥檚 annual conference while sitting on its board of directors.

How does your philosophy about higher education mesh with the expectations of this award?

翱鈥机辞苍苍辞谤:听Many people confuse leadership with positional leadership. Leadership is much more than having a title. You must live and embrace the expectations of leadership. I strongly believe that if someone works hard and is dedicated to higher education, then they can succeed in leadership.

Talk about the importance of mentoring.

翱鈥机辞苍苍辞谤: I got to where I am in this profession through the help of amazing mentors. I have received mentoring from cabinet members, colleagues, faculty, staff, peers and students. If I can reciprocate that even a fraction for others, that will be amazing.

Let鈥檚 have rapid responses about 91成人导航 and higher education. You get one sentence for each prompt.

翱鈥机辞苍苍辞谤: OK, let鈥檚 go.

Residential life:听We have done amazing renovations to our residence halls and the result is more students want to live on campus.

Newly planned Southwest Hall:听I am so excited for this new residence hall coming that will impact the dynamic of campus.

Food service:听The continuity is so important in having a 40-year association with Bon Appetit.

91成人导航 Summer High School Institute:听We are building an amazing pipeline for students with help from our upperclassmen.

Yield and retention of students:听This is a complicated issue nationwide, but at 91成人导航 we have processes and protocols in place to keep our students and make sure they graduate in four years.

91成人导航鈥檚 future:听I believe听President Christopher Callahan and the 91成人导航 team will accomplish the goal of being the nation鈥檚 No. 1 private institution within the next eight years.