Talking Stick - July/August 2018 - 37

What is the first memory that jumps
into your mind when you think about
your career in campus housing?
The recurring sense and belief of the
importance of our work and profession
in assisting and directing the student
experience to positive and productive
outcomes.
When do you first remember being
aware of ACUHO-I?
My ACUHO-I gateway experience was
through NWACUHO which culminated as regional president. I subsequently
served ACUHO-I as Western District
Representative which allowed me to
concurrently continue my service to
NWACUHO.
Who were your mentors and influencers when you first got started?
All things linked to my own "servant
leader" experiences began at Oregon
State University. In the 40 plus years
since, my mentor Dr. M. Edward Bryan
continues to occupy an important space
in my life.
What were the major issues in the field
during the time you were on the Executive Board? How do they differ from
what practitioners face today?
In my experience - "student issues/
needs/concerns" directly informed the
work of the Association - both then and
now. Students are the heart of the enterprise - and by extension - the primary
and critical work of the Association.
This connection [desired student
service outcomes = Association mission-critical goals/objectives] is timeless
and all-encompassing. Every member
service, education, training, certification, etc., is designed to address this paradigm.
In six words, how would you describe
ACUHO-I?
Service-centered, inclusive, innovative,
quality-outcomes, sensitive, and respected.

James C. Grimm
Leadership & Service
Award

Thomas
Ellett
New York University

homas Ellett currently serves as the senior associate vice president for student affairs at New York University, where he has been employed since
2001. He has also worked at Syracuse University and Catholic University
of America. He received his PhD from Fordham University in Educational Leadership, Policy and Administration.
Through his career he has been actively involved in ACUHO-I through a variety of positions and projects. His involvement includes serving on the Executive
Board through the presidential cycle as well as being the Eastern District Representative under the old governance model. He has served on the Exhibits and
Displays Committee for the annual conference and the ACUHO-I Nominations
Committee.
He was the creator and original host of V-Roundtable for three years, RELI
participant (year 1) and faculty member, Task Force Governance twice, project
director of an ACUHO-I research grant ($50,000) on recruitment and retention of entry-level staff, more than 20 presentations at the ACUHO-I Annual
Conference, author of numerous Talking Stick articles, co-creator of RELI, and
past-president of MACUHO.
Ellett's most fond memories of the profession are the relationships he has
forged through the association. ACUHO-I at UMCP in 1988 was his first conference and he was hooked, serving more than ten years on the Exhibits and Displays Committee, announcing the winners of the various drawings.
Who were your mentors and influencers when you first got started? How did
they assist you?
Deb Boykin, David Stephen, Norb Dunkel, and Joanie Schmidt. My two "partners" in ACUHO-I are Deb Schmidt-Rogers and Joanne Goldwater. They keep
me excited about the future and giving back.
What were the major issues in the field while you were on the Executive Board?
Diversification of leadership positions in ACUHO-I, internationalization of the
association, making better connections across our regions, research and using
data. While progress has been made, these issues do remain today.
In six words, how would you describe ACUHO-I?
My friends & conscience away from NYU.

Talking Stick - July/August 2018

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