Advisor of the Year Western Illinois University

Brittany Royce

GLACURH 2015 Saginaw Valley University

Table of Contents Siblings Weekend………… 2

Advising…………. 3

Job Description………….4

Conference Experience…………..5

Award………….6

Letter of recommendation ……. 7-8

“Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it”

“I worked one-on-one with Brittany. She not only is great at advising stu-dent leaders, she made a point in be-ing involved in their personal lives and made connections.”- Anissa Aguilar, former Siblings Weekend Committee Chair

Sibling’s Weekend

Advisor: Brittany served as one of the advisors for the 2014-2015 siblings weekend committee. She worked with 8 committee members to plan the weekend long event, that included events like The Amazing Race, trivia, and an ice cream social. The weekend brought in around 270 participants. Along with working with the committee members, she oversaw 30 volunteers that helped all weekend long. She set up bi-weekly meetings with the com-mittee chair to make plans and agendas for the following weeks, and she was always available to answer any questions the com-mittee may have had. If she did not know the answer to the questions, she tried her hard-est to locate the person that could help. She suggested ideas every meeting and tried to incorporate all committee member’s ideas to fit into the activities already planned.

“Brittany is very dedicated to her advising efforts. She is sure to follow-up and build relationships with the students she works with on a daily basis, especially the students she advises. There is a reason she chose to go back and work with IHC, because she has seen the potential in those students and she strives to make them better in many ways through her one-on-one and group interactions.”- Maggie Miller, Assistant Complex Director

Inter-Hall Council

Advisor: Brittany currently serves as one of the 2015-2016 advisors for Inter-Hall Council. Britta-ny works along side the executive board to make sure the general assembly meetings, who is made up of elected student leaders that live in the residence halls, run smooth-ly and is there to answer any questions that the executive board may not be able to answer. She attends all executive board meetings and is willing to meet with Inter-Hall Council members outside of the gen-eral assembly meeting if they want to talk specifically about a topic. She has bi-weekly one on one meetings with the exec-utive board and is currently using her posi-tion to collect data for her graduate thesis.

Homecoming

Advisor: Brittany was one of the graduate advisors for Homecoming 2015. Homecoming is a week-long celebration leading up to the homecom-ing football game on Saturday. During the week, students participate in events such as a variety show and yell like hell. Brittany worked with all of the different committees and organization members to put on the weeklong event. She was able to place her joyful personality into the planning process to make sure the events were something that all of the student body would enjoy.

RA selection: Brittany was one of the main Assistant Complex Directors involved in Resident Assistant selection. She

was conducting interviews and helping the RA’s throughout the entire interview process. Her knowledge

of the position such as, the requirements, personality types, skill sets, and finding potential among the

students made her a huge asset in being part of the selection committee. She became a better leader

during her time as a selection official. Over seeing these potential RA’s made look at herself as an advi-

sor, and find new ways to advance herself.

Thompson Hall Assistant Complex Director: Brittany is currently in her second year of being an assistant complex director (ACD) in Thompson Hall. Here, she supervises all of the residence assistants throughout the hall. She is available to answer any and all questions residence have or help dismiss problem that may occur with the residence or residence as-sistance. Due to her being an ACD, she is able to attend Thompson Hall’s hall government meetings where she is able to give reports and update about the hall, and answer questions that people may bring to the meetings.

The Oshkosh Placement Exchange:

Brittany attended OPE in the summer of

this year. There, she was able to help re-

cruit for people who wanted to become

complex directors and assistant complex

directors at Western. This shows how de-

termined Brittany is to help guide and lead

others into positions she knows will fit

them well based off their personality and

resume. Since Brittany contains all the

qualities for both positions, it was natural

for her to go there on behalf of Western.

She was able to make sure that everyone

was up to expectations and maintained

professional the entire time.

“Brittany Royce is a great role model at the WIU campus. She is always en-couraging students to get involved on campus. She brings a welcoming and positive atmoshpere . She verall is a great mentor to look up to” - Jessica Seger, Thompson Hall Desk Assistant

Acuho-I:

Brittany attended The Association of College

and University Housing Officers-

International at Purdue University in Febru-

ary of 2015, where students, specialists, and

leaders all go to improve residential living on

campus. She was a graduate intern there

this summer and served as an advisor for 3

months. She was able to supervise Resident

Assistants and improve their leadership

skills. One thing to know about Brittany is

that she loves to empower students in any

way possible. While there she attended nu-

merous programs and events to enhance

her knowledge as well on how to help the

students.

“Brittany has a unique talent for establishing a fun, creative environment for stu-dents to grow and become leaders. After two years with Brittany as my advisor, it is obvious to see that she not only cares for the task at hand, but also for the person-al and professional development of students” - Maddie Heinzer, Inter-Hall Council executive board member

AWARD Last year, Brittany was awarded the Advisor of the Year award from Western Illinois’s Inner-

Hall Council. She won this award based of her numerous advising positions and her persis-

tence with her job making sure students are reaching their full potential. The students consid-

ered her a role model in her advising positon for hall government in Thompson hall every

week and Inner-hall council general assembly.

“Brittany was not only an amazing advisor but was around to help with any sit-uation that arises in your life. She puts 100% into everything she does and never gives up when times get rough” -Cheyanne Harmon, Current Thompson Hall E-board Member

"Brittany puts a lot of effort into ensuring the programs she advises are a suc-cess. She cares a lot for the things she advises and that shows through the amount of work she puts in."- Assistant Complex Direct, Holly Dysserinck

October 14, 2015

Dear GLACURH:

I am writing this letter of support on behalf of Brittany Royce as the Inter-Hall Council of Western Illinois University

submits her for GLACURH Advisor of the Year. She is a second year graduate student in one of our tower residence

halls housing about 1000 upper divisions students. In this capacity she has the opportunity to have multiple advis-

ing opportunities outside of the tremendous amount of hours she is putting into the primary parts of her assis-

tantship as well as her graduate studies work in a very intensive College Student Personnel academic program, at

which she is excelling.

At Western Siblings Weekend has been one of our biggest traditions for over thirty years now. This past spring

Brittany served as the Advisor to this group. She was there every step of the way assisting the committee and the

Chair to make sure that it was a tremendous experience for our students and their siblings participating in the

weekends activities. I am happy to say it was a tremendous success.

Brittany’s experience was such an impactful one that this past summer she sought out more responsibilities in the

area of advising. In a step that we don’t often take we offered Brittany to Co-Advise Inter-Hall Council. It is im-

portant to remember that we have a long and rich history here at WIU with this student group. They are the voice

of the residence halls on campus and are probably the most recognized student group at Western. The Advisor job

has always been written into the contract of a member of the central office so for her to be able to take on this

responsibility shows you what we think of her ability to connect our students and make a difference.

Through weekly meetings with elected board members, Brittany has done a fantastic job challenging members of the executive board to push the boundaries of their impact here on campus. Working closely with the Vice-President of Inter-Hall Council, Brittany has helped the group develop a new program, the Blue Light 5K, focusing on healthy habits and safe spaces on campus. Brittany provides overall guidance for 6 executive board members who are planning and executing numerous initi-atives throughout each month. The time commitment for an Assistant Complex Director to also assist with advising Inter-Hall Council is large, but she has embraced the opportunity to advise and develop the on-campus living expe-rience be working with the dedicated group involved in Inter-Hall Council. Brittany's dedication to advising reaches past Inter-Hall Council as she has also served as one of the advisors to Western Illinois University's Homecoming. Homecoming is the biggest event of the year on this campus and mean a great deal to students, staff and alumni. The theme for 2015, "Rocky's Road Trip: All Roads Lead to Western" is fitting for the semester Brittany has had serving as both Homecoming and Inter-Hall Council advisor. Brittany's commitment to IHC never faltered as she traveled all around campus assisting the Homecoming team throughout the fall semester. Brittany's effort in supporting Inter-Hall Council and the students involved with Homecoming certainly helped many students be very glad their roads lead them to Western Illinois University. Through advising the Homecoming Committee, Brittany was able to not only expand her advising experiences, but prove she is com-mitted to all students here at WIU. Brittany Royce is an up and coming star in our profession. She is hard working, dedicated, passionate, and caring. As a former GLACURH Director and Conference Co-Adivsor that has advised student groups for over two decades I can tell you that she is what this award is all about. I urge you to give her your utmost consideration for this pres-tigious recognition. Sincerely, John Biernbaum

Associate Vice-President for Student Services

Western Illinois University

October 13, 2015

Members of the GLACURH awards selection committee,

We are pleased to support Brittany Royce as advisor of the year for GLACURH 2015. We believe that Brittany has been a strong and helpful resource as a previous advisor for the Siblings’ Weekend com-mittee of Inter-Hall Council and currently as the graduate advisor for Inter-Hall Council (IHC).

Brittany is a second year graduate student in the College Student Personnel program here at Western Illinois University (WIU). She has been a constant presence on-campus as an Assistant Complex Direc-tor for a residence hall as well as a Resident Assistants’ supervisor for that hall. Additionally, she was an advisor for the Siblings’ Weekend committee. Multiple members of our current executive board had the pleasure of working with her in this context. She helped lead and coordinate the planning and exe-cution of this weekend event. However, she made sure that the students involved used the experience for themselves and served more as a guide than a “boss”. She facilitated the development of the mem-bers, many of which have moved on to higher leadership positions across campus.

Brittany now serves as the graduate advisor for Inter-Hall Council, attending meetings and serving as a resource for various aspects of campus life. Similar to her previous work as an advisor, she lets us as students take the lead and encourages us to do our best. She meets weekly with members to discuss IHC matters and to also gauge and check on their academic and personal lives. Above all, Brittany serves as a professional connection but more importantly as a friend and reliable support.

No matter what Brittany is involved in she puts forth 100%. Brittany has always been there when and if needed, whether that be personal or business. Brittany helps to develop the students’ skills as a leader and what kind of leader they want to become in the future. She is always the first to jump and help when something of higher priority is needed. With her help and guidance those in Siblings Weekend were able to put on a fantastic weekend. We can foresee a similar outcome to the 2015-2016 IHC ses-sion. Wherever the path of life leads, Brittany will with thrive and do great things and have a positive effect on those that she comes in contact with.

Sincerely,

Inter-Hall Council Executive Board