Tower Magazine - Summer/Fall 2024 - 9

/// TEAM CHAMP
BUILDING COMMUNITY:
Res Life is a Way of Life
For Dawan Worsley and Anja
Homberger, residence life has
become a way of life. Both were
Resident Assistants (RA) during their
own undergrad experience, and they
still feel quite at home living-and
working-on a college campus.
Dawan and Anja joined Thaddeus
Stevens College of Technology
during the fall 2023 semester. With
one academic year under their belts,
the impact of their efforts is already
making a difference.
FINDING THEIR PASSION,
PURSUING THEIR PATH
Dawan has been working in residence
life in some capacity for more than
a decade, and his professional
ambitions began when he was an RA
at his alma mater, William Paterson
University of New Jersey.
" I knew I was good at connecting
with people and that I could gain
leadership experience, " he explains as
to why he applied for an RA position.
" And the financial assistance was also
really important to me. "
Inspired by the difference he made
in his peers' lives, Dawan began his
residence life career, first at Salisbury
University, then Northampton
Community College, and at Hood
College in Frederick, Maryland.
When he discovered the opening at
Thaddeus Stevens College, he was at
a four-year school. After reflecting on
his previous professional experience,
he felt a two-year college was a
better match for his skills.
" I saw this as a real opportunity
to become a more active part of
making change, " he said of his role at
Thaddeus Stevens College. He gets
to do just that alongside Anja.
A self-proclaimed theater and music
kid, Anja began her career in special
education and eventually found
herself working in residence life, first
as a village coordinator at Virginia
Wesleyan University in 2022. In
between, in 2016, she joined the PA
Army National Guard, an experience
that brought out her natural knack
for leadership. She worked full-time
for the Guard for five years in Joint
Force Headquarters before she
went back to school for her master's
degree focused in higher education,
student affairs. She says working in
residence life allows her to combine
her strengths and interests.
" This role bridges education and
administration, with a touch of being
creative, " she explains, adding that the
mission of Thaddeus Stevens College
aligns with her personal, family, and
Army values. Her artistic background
is also clear in some of her initiatives,
such as visual branding efforts for
campus programs.
Together, Dawan and Anja have found
their stride at Thaddeus Stevens
College. As Director, Dawan is focused
on administrative duties, student
conduct, standardizing processes, and
implementing new software programs
to build efficiencies between
residence life and other campus
departments and offices, such as
admissions. Anja's Assistant Director
role is largely zeroed in on student
activities and engagement.
Both have a strong presence on
campus, whether it's Dawan making
rounds and hand-delivering mail or
Anja's open-door policy. Students
even have special waves they do as
they walk by her office.
BOLSTERING RESOURCES,
BRIDGING GAPS
Dawan says one of the most
rewarding parts of leading a
residence life team is witnessing how
his work directly impacts students: A
comfortable, safe living environment
can contribute significantly to
someone's success in college.
" Our students don't always have the
best home situation or even housing
security, " he explains. The ability to
provide that also drives Anja.
" As a residential college, " she
explains, " students live here, but
it may be their first time living
independently, and they need the
resources and guidance to do so
successfully. " That's what motivates
her most. She envisions a stronger
and more cohesive campus life
experience, one that goes beyond
just having a dorm room.
Thaddeus Stevens College : 8
Tower Magazine - Summer/Fall 2024

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