For leading the Residence Hall Association’s efforts to engage Loyola Marymount University’s residential community, Mariah Glenn was recently selected as the Advisor of the Month by the Pacific Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls.
Glenn, who is completing her master’s degree in school counseling at LMU, serves as the advisor to the Residence Hall Association (RHA). The goal of RHA, which operates in conjunction with Student Housing, is to promote student leadership, actively engage the residential community and advocate as representatives of the residential community.
Before coming to LMU for graduate school, Glenn served as a resident advisor at another institution. Upon coming to LMU in 2015, she applied for an RHA graduate assistant advisor position despite not being familiar with the organization. Glenn then attended national RHA conferences, which she says gave her more confidence to advise the RHA board in their efforts to engage the residential community.
Pacific Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls, a regional affiliate of the national organization, received 13 submissions for its September Advisor of the Month, for which Glenn selected.
“I feel so honored to be recognized on the regional level and to be selected among so many other advisors who I am sure are doing amazing work also,” says Glenn. “It has definitely driven me to be an even better advisor for RHA.”
Glenn received the recognition after being nominated by Hayden Tanabe, president of RHA.
“We are all incredibly excited for Mariah,” says Tanabe, a junior management major from Torrance. “It is no surprise to me that she was selected because of the genuine commitment that she has demonstrated to the betterment of our organization.”
As a RHA advisor, Glenn works with university officials to make sure all guidelines are being followed for risk management, and she communicates with vendors and guests that come to campus for engagements hosted by RHA. She also works one-on-one with the RHA executive board to assist in the year’s planning process, collaborates with Events Operations and participates in Student Housing trainings.
One of the programs Glenn says she is most proud to be a part of is Cram Jam, a partnership between RHA and Sodexo, that provides LMU students a late night study break, $1 all-you-can-eat breakfast and giveaways. Food Truck Cinema Festival, a partnership between RHA and the First Year Residential Experience that brings food trucks on campus for a movie screening, is one of her favorites
Glenn says the variety of functions she performs in her RHA position has given her a better understanding of the higher education and student affairs world, which has led her to have more professional confidence. Glenn says she is passionate about the educational accessibility for underserved students, and adds that she plans to pursue that work upon completing her master’s degree.
“I believe all students, no matter their zip code, should be afforded the opportunity to go to institutions like LMU,” Glenn adds. “They should all experience education from high-quality faculty and staff that will change the lives of the students who will be our future leaders.”
Tanabe says Glenn has already changed his life.
“Mariah has greatly enhanced my LMU experience and the experiences of all involved,” he says. “I firmly believe that this is what she was called to do.”
Students interested in getting involved with Residence Hall Association should contact their resident director.
By Andrea Crespo