FAMU Welcomes Wilder to Residence Life

FAMU Housing Office located on 1596 Gibbs Hall Trail in Tallahassee.

Dr. Jennifer Wilder to Rattler Residence Life

Ebony Ivey

Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida A&M University encounters hundreds of staff and faculty annually. Upon the retirement of Oscar Crummity in the Spring of 2016, Student Affairs as well as the Housing Department on campus prepared to fill big shoes, in search of a new University Housing Director.

The Associate Vice President of Student Life, Dr. Thomas Alexander, who spearheaded the search, said that a certain level of experience was what helped narrow the search down to three finalists, until a decision on the best candidate was made.

“The qualities were people who had experience working with a complex housing operation,” said Alexander. “All three of those finalists were sitting directors already at another institution. They all had director level experience.”  

The considered finalists included housing directors from Lincoln University, an HBCU in Missouri, and a North Carolina representative from North Carolina Central, and Fayetteville State University.

Not only did the University Housing staff and other Student Affairs employees play a role in the decision, but also Resident Directors, Assistants and the campus community were able to let their voices be heard.

“I think that’s very important to include everyone in the decision making process. We had a panel that included RA’s, Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the Mister and Miss of each facility,” said Alexander.

RHA, a committee made up of the Housing Coordinators and Directors, RA’s, RD’s and residents of each facility will be imperative to the new director’s longevity and success. The committee meets quarterly to discuss topics such as housing issues, rental rates and housing facility policies.

One major alteration to campus housing’s rules this year, was the visitation curfew for traditional and non-traditional facilities. Thanks to RHA, the curfew for visitors was pushed back to 2 a.m. from 12 midnight.

As far as a time frame for when the hiring personnel will come to a decision, one has been made.

“The person was already hired,” said Alexander.

So just who will be the newest Director of Housing on the highest of seven hills?

Dr. Jennifer Wilder, former Director of Residence Life at North Carolina Central, Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, and most recently, former Director of Residential Life at Fayetteville State has been appointed as FAMU’s new Director of Housing.

Jason Moody weighed in on the search, as he has been a Resident Assistant for Sampson and Young Hall, since the fall of 2015.

“I haven’t met Dr. Wilder yet, so I’m not sure what she’s like, but I would like to see her change the efficiency of Housing as a whole,” said Moody. He is anticipating her arrival to the campus housing community, as she will officially begin her position in approximately 20 days.  

FAMU’s campus is home to eight different residential facilities. Two of the eight residence halls are on-campus apartments, five are traditional co-ed or single sex, and one is a non-traditional suit styled facility.

For more information on campus residence life, prospective and current students may visit www.famu.edu/housing.