At Southern Nazarene University, resident assistants play a vital role in shaping campus life. From late-night desk duty to early-morning classes, RAs are the steady presence behind dorm doors, helping create community and support among students.
For Evan Rader, a junior engineering science major and RA for Imel, Asbury, and the Duplexes, the job is deeply relational.
“To me, being an RA means being a friend and advocate for my residents,” Rader expressed. “My job is to build relationships and help create community on campus.”
That community-building is echoed by Maddi Halloran, a sophomore elementary education major and one of four RAs in Bracken Hall.
“I would describe it as an opportunity to love and be loved by a staff while serving the residents on our campus,” she said.
RAs juggle multiple duties that go far beyond unlocking doors or checking IDs. Halloran detailed the technical side of the job, noting, “We typically have duty every 10 days where we sit at the desk from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. and greet people who are coming in. It gives us the opportunity to be available for people who may need something.”
Beyond those shifts, RAs conduct nightly rounds, lead weekly meetings, handle maintenance issues, and check in with residents throughout the week.
“Every day, we handle our residents’ needs—whatever they may be—like getting locked out or just needing an ear to listen,” Halloran voiced.
Rader, who also plays football for SNU, manages a busy schedule balancing both responsibilities.
“Yes, I am,” he said when asked about playing football. “Occasionally. But both my RD, Charlie, and Coach Hada work well together to make sure that I do not miss too much.”
Halloran faces a similar test of endurance as a cheerleader.
“We usually have two to four practices a week at 6 a.m., which can be really hard when I also have to stay up for duty until 1 a.m.,” she said with a laugh. “But it helps when I can get homework and any RA tasks done while I am on duty.”
Despite the demanding schedule, both Rader and Halloran emphasized how faith sustains them.
“Faith-wise, it definitely helps to be around my residents who speak life into me, and I can return the favor back as well,” Halloran claimed.
For Rader, leadership and faith go hand in hand.
“When I think about what it means to be an RA,” he stated, “it is about being an example—being someone others can rely on when they need support or encouragement.”
Their work reflects SNU’s mission of building a Christ-centered community. For many students, RAs are the first point of connection when moving to campus, and the first example of what servant leadership looks like in daily life.
“As an RA, I just try to be there for people,” Rader said. “If I can make one person feel seen or supported, then I have done my job.”
From long nights at the desk to early-morning practices, SNU’s resident assistants continue to shape dorm life with compassion, faith, and purpose—reminding students that leadership is about service, not spotlight.
Photos by SNU Creative