The Office of Residence Life is staffed by the Director of Residence Life, three Assistant Directors, 24 Resident Assistants, an Administrative Assistant, and Work Study Students.
The Director of Residence Life
The Director of Residence Life oversees the department, including the Residence Centers. In collaboration with other campus departments, the director supervises the day-to-day management of the department as well as larger projects to grow the department and the services we offer. The Director of Residence Life resides on campus.
Derrick Hicks, Director of Residence Life
Phone: (845) 848-7600
Email: Derrick.Hicks@duny.edu
Derrick Hicks is a Higher Education professional with many years of experience working at private and public institutions to support student learning and success. He started his Higher Education journey as a Resident Assistant and then served in several professional leadership positions, including his most recent roles as Adjunct Professor and Director of Residential Education and Housing at Bloomfield College. He is a proud and native New Yorker that is excited to become a Charger and join the Dominican University community.
Derrick received his B.A. degree from SUNY Purchase College and his M.S. degree from The University of Indianapolis. He is a servant and visionary leader that has experience working with nonprofit and for-profit organizations that span the sectors of Education, Entertainment, Health Care, Wellness, Social Justice, and Service to name a few. He is a lifelong learner that embraces challenges, celebrates individuality and values collaboration.
Derrick is thankful to have had a previous supervisor that has inspired his professional motto which states “We work with students, not for students.” This motto has shaped Derrick’s approach to leadership and has informed the ingenious results that he’s been able to yield over the years. He has always been an advocate for student needs, positive change and doing the right thing. He has proven his ability to develop and implement creative solutions for complex issues when budget, space and other resources are limited.
Some things that bring Derrick joy are a good laugh, spending time with family, traveling the world, opportunities to create, playing both video and board games, and practicing self-care. He appreciates the little things and enjoys learning something new, exploring the outdoors, finding great music to keep on replay, and participating in volunteer experiences.
Assistant Directors of Residence Life
The Assistants Directors (ADs) are responsible for Student Conduct, Housing and Operations, and Programming and Leadership Development. In addition, they are each responsible for overseeing a specific Residence Center and the staff of Resident Assistants and Work Studies employed in that building. The ADs participate on a rotating 24-hour-a-day schedule to address any emergency situations that may take place after their office hours. Because of the nature of their work, ADs live and work in their Residence Centers.
Geoffrey Quist, Assistant Director of Residence Life
Phone (845) 848-7420
Email geoffrey.quist@duny.edu
Guzman Hall
Ashley Brown, Graduate Assistant- Resident Director of Hertel Hall
Ashley Brown was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. During her undergraduate years, Ashley studied Public Health. However, she found her love for residence life during her senior year. During her undergraduate years, she spent her time as a Resident Assistant, Student Ambassador, and Mentor.
Ashley is working towards her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Communication. She enjoys working with a diverse campus community that will allow her to broaden her horizons and expand her experience in Student Affairs.
In August 2022, Ashley was elated to accept a position at Dominican University in which she can help students flourish and help provide them with amazing experiences that they will always remember. Ashley is super excited to be a part of the Charger community and emulsified in the University’s culture!
Some of Ashley’s “favorites” include baking, cooking, watching shows on Netflix, puppies, and her favorite holidays are Thanksgiving and Christmas
Resident Assistants
These students are the most visible and active members of the Residence Life team. Each module/ hallway in our Residence Centers is assigned to one of these campus leaders, who are extensively trained to promote community and safety across campus. This includes working with their AD to develop a community atmosphere designed to assist with academic success and social growth through responsibility. They do this through programming events, being present in the building, and staying attuned to their resident’s personal, social, and emotional needs, all while maintaining their own academics.
The Resident Assistants participate on a nightly and 24-hour weekend schedule every night the semester is in session. You can reach the RA on duty Monday-Thursday from 5 p.m. until 9 a.m. and there is 24 hour coverage from Friday at 5 p.m. until Monday morning at 9 a.m.
Residents Assistants also maintain office hours every night from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. To contact the RA on duty, students should call the RA duty phone for their respective building or report to the security desk to have them contacted.
Work Study Students
Every Residence Center employs Work Study Students through the Financial Aid office. These positions are overseen and filled at the beginning of every semester by the ADs of the Residence Centers. Responsibilities of these student workers include a variety of clerical tasks, delivering items to other departments, and overseeing student lounges.