Kent State University’s Assistant Director of Residence Education Charles Holmes-Hope led a video project in collaboration with the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) titled “Pillars of the Profession.” The video showcases and underscores the life legacies of directors of housing and residence life (or chief housing officers) to learn more about why they chose student affairs as a career, and in particular the housing profession, and what they believe will be some of the biggest challenges impacting the housing profession, including their thoughts on issues impacting university housing globally.
“The purpose of this video project was to focus on housing professionals, both then and now, to enhance our legacy and bring voice to a new generation of chief housing officers through conversations, sharing of life stories from experienced leaders and serving as a sounding board for aspiring chief housing officers and others in the housing profession,” says Holmes-Hope. “Our goal was to capture the essence and wisdom of these extraordinary individuals who will be retiring in the coming years. The profession wanted to learn more about their careers, accomplishments and successes.”
The project was recorded at the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International Annual Conference and Exposition, which took place in Anaheim, Calif. in July 2012. Holmes-Hope worked with ACUHO-I Past President Alma Sealine, and ACUHO-I Executive Director Sallie Traxler, to conduct 16 interviews with chief housing officers from universities around the world.
Holmes-Hope says the name “Pillars of the Profession” came from the spirit of celebrating the contributions of these outstanding chief housing officers.
“We wanted this project to serve as an anchor in preparing and concentrating on those key professional practices, habits, ideas and values that have led many of our housing pillars to date,” he says. “The ‘Pillars of the Profession’ project has gone global, being shown on our association’s YouTube site. I have received so many positive and uplifting emails, Facebook and Twitter messages about the project. It has really taken over and has been well received. People are really gravitating to what is being said in the video.”
The idea of “Pillars of the Profession” project was to introduce and connect seasonal and graduate students to chief housing officers who are about to retire and to provide a comprehensive perspective to seasoned and entering professionals.
“What I know for sure is that we have amazing chief housing officers who have been at the forefront in transforming and influencing this profession guided by the philosophy: ‘People, Perspectives and the Possibilities,’” he says.
Holmes-Hope watched several themes develop in the course of the project, such as affordability of campus housing, partnerships with private housing companies and amenities in housing.
He received funding for the project through Kent State’s Residence Services department. He says he hopes to continue the project this year at the 2013 ACUHO-I Conference.
“This has really blown my mind,” Holmes-Hope says. “I am happy that people are seeing the Pillars and that I was given the opportunity to interview these distinguished professionals.”
To view the “Pillars of the Profession” video project, visit www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8UUhowyImEEWbQnAC3vOqoJzdMkjyCDW.