During the latter part of the fall semester, University Housing Services embarked on an exciting initiative to showcase the exceptional journeys of its past Association of Residence Halls (ARH) Executive Board members. Through a series of interviews, University Housing Services connected with these previous executive board members to chat about their unique experiences with ARH. In these conversations, University Housing Services dove deeper into how their time with ARH has impacted their personal and professional growth. In this article, we showcase the main takeaways and insights from these conversations.
Representing all four residential living areas on campus, the ARH stands as the vocal representation of students residing within the residence halls at Illinois State University. Through events, leadership opportunities, and student forums, ARH aims to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment within the residence halls.
The organization is steered by a student-elected executive board that oversees the main operations of the organization. The board is composed of a president, vice president, director of administrative affairs, director of community engagement, director of marketing, and an RA/CA liaison.
Reflecting on his time as the ARH vice president during the 2014-15 academic year, Mike Carlo shared, “Through ARH, I was able to experiment and learn from failure, which I believe is paramount. It’s a secure space to explore oneself and embrace new experiences.” Handling move-in operations and supervising fellow board members, Carlo gained hands-on business expertise in planning, logistics, and schedule management. Presently serving as a technology recruiting manager for Robert Half Talent Solutions, Carlo acknowledges ARH as a catalyst for his professional growth.
Being a part of the ARH executive board can provide real-life experience in a variety of skills.
“I enjoyed being able to plan programs and bring creativity to the table,” said Connor Carson, a past programming chair for ARH for the 2016-17 academic year and the RA/CA liaison during the 2017-18 year. After graduating from Illinois State University, Carson went on to become a third grade teacher. “It connects to lesson planning,” said Carson, when asked how the skills acquired while on the ARH executive board applied to his professional life as an educator. “(ARH) has helped me a lot. I planned every day, thinking about what could go wrong and what materials I need. These are skills that have transitioned to being a teacher.”
Students on the ARH executive board often collaborate with other departments and campus organizations for different projects. This gives students a firsthand glimpse into how different real-world organizations are run.
Former ARH president and treasurer Rob Picha reflects, “(I gained) insights into the decision-making processes at higher echelons. Understanding their strategic thinking was invaluable.” With a degree in finance and accounting from Illinois State University, Picha now holds a role as a senior planning and analysis analyst at State Farm. He credits his growth in communication and budgeting skills to his tenure on the executive board, stating, “(ARH) provided an initial glimpse into real-world budgeting and expense planning.”
For students interested in joining ARH, attending the ARH General Assembly meetings throughout the academic year is an excellent starting point. For more information, visit ARH.IllinoisState.edu.
