By Lamesha Green (Whetstone Staff Writer)

Cochise Lucas

Williams Hall resident director Andre Ifill’s plan is to reach out to more than just his own residents.

“Eventually, I would like to be a dean of students,” said Ifill, 24, a native of Long Island. “I love my job here at Wesley because of the student interaction and being able to play that role of the big brother to students.”

Ifill graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, N.J., with a degree in Creative Writing in 2009, but couldn’t find a job in his field.

“I wasn’t having that much luck finding jobs,” Ifill said. “In a conversation I had with the dean of students at FDU, he suggested I look into higher education since I did a lot of programming there.”

Influenced by his conversation, Ifill’s inspiration also came from the FDU dean of students.

“He loved his job and interacting with students so much,” Ifill said. “While I was attending FDU, it was inspirational to see someone that much enjoy their job and I wanted to do the same.”

In the fall of 2010, Ifill enrolled at the University of Delaware, majoring in higher education. While working at UD in the office of graduate professional education, Ifill heard of an available RD position at Wesley.

“I interviewed with Mary-Alice, Kevin Hansbery, and a few others in the office of student life and I guess they felt I was the right man for the job,” he said.
Ifill says his job has a great deal of responsibilities.

“In a nutshell I answer e-mails, address the needs of residents, help to manage RAs, and attend a lot of meetings,” he said. “Being a resident director is really a job anyone can do, but having the discipline and patience is one of the main requirements for such a job.”

Ifill feels that at such a small school he has a closer interaction with students.

“I like that Wesley has a small campus and that it’s easy to get to know people,” he said. “I am very social with the students that really welcomed me, such as some of the RAs that welcomed me during RA training and when residents, as well as my staff, come to me with situations I try to help them out the best way I know how.”

Students say Ifill cares about their concerns.

“Andre is very helpful to his residents and has a kind heart,” said sophomore Jasmine Oden. “I don’t get to see him that often, since I am an RA in Gooding, but when I do he always makes an effort to say hello.”

Sophomore Micheal Liegey, a resident assistant in Williams Hall said Ifill is doing a solid performance.

“I really can’t complain,” he said. “Andre runs a pretty solid ship.”

Oden also said she thinks Ifill is doing an awesome job for it to only being his first year.