By: Joncara Marshall (Whetstone Contributor)

If someone were to say “I’m a Jersey Shore guy,” the first image may be a tanned, hard-partying dude on summer break.

Certainly not New Jersey native Kevin Hansbury, director of residence life, reading a Mary Higgins Clark novel with his English bulldog, Archie.

His job here Wesley College is to supervise the dorms’ residence directors, make sure the dorms are in good condition, and take care of day-to-day student conduct and violations. August will mark his fourth year at Wesley.

Hansbury likes seeing first-year students develop into adults.

“I like meeting students and helping them navigate through different issues.” he said.

“He has a dry sense of humor.” said Sarah Smith, director of student activities.

The picture of student life director Mary-Alice Ozechoski saying “I’m the boss around here!” on his door is a pretty good hint.

“He is a really great co-worker.” Smith said, “He knows how to handle students and parents. He’s good at keeping his composure.”

Hansbury, 34, comes from Williamstown, N.J., and has a an older brother and younger sister

“I believe in Alfred Alder’s birth order theory;” said Hansbury, “Everything about the middle child applies to me.”

Despite the competiveness Alder suggests, Hansbury got along with his other siblings. His brother is a teacher and his sister is in the Air Force.

Hansbury graduated from Wesley with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He also minored in political science and history and got his master’s in clinical psychology from West Chester University.

He does not know why he chose to study psychology.

“I don’t know where the interest came from,” Hansbury said.

He still keeps in touch with some of his former Wesley professors, including Dr. Tony Armstrong.

“He was a very good student academically,” Armstrong said. “He was very lively in class and in debates.”

Armstrong said he worked closely with Hansbury during the former student’s reign as SGA president from 1999 to 2000. During Hansbury’s term, he was able to get furniture in the lobby for students and a kitchen in the old financial aid house.

“He was very successful in getting things done for students in the face of administrative resistance,” Armstrong said. “Kevin left a strong legacy of student empowerment.”

Armstrong enjoys working with Hansbury on the student affairs committee and says he is very helpful in making big changes.

Hansbury said Wesley is where he gained leadership experience.

An Eagles fan, he has season tickets to their games and has been to Florida to see them play. He is also a fan of the Phillies.

Hansbury also runs in marathons. Last St. Patrick Day weekend, he ran his first-and last- full marathon – 26.2 miles. He does not consider himself an athlete, but says he does it for “fun and fitness” with a group of friends.

“I just stuck with it,” he said

He enjoys reading thriller and suspense novels by James Patterson, Harlen Coben, and Mary Higgins Clark.

“I think Clark is a phenomenal woman,” said Hansbury.

A movie buff and “man-cave” dweller, he has “hundreds and thousands” of DVDs and keeps his VHS tapes in a closet. Though he does not watch them, he still has the VHS player plugged in.

He likes horror, thriller and suspense movies. One of his favorite is Halloween, which he watched when he was 9.

He does not know why he likes those particular genres.

“It is what it is,” said Hansbury.

He also likes to travel and has been to “steaming” New Orleans, California, Italy and London.

Hansbury says there are a few changes at the school since he has graduated, including the growth in student body and the newer dorms, Zimmerman and Malmberg.

“The faculty is still as good as I remember them to be,” he said.

He said his Wesley College experience was a great one.

“There’s nothing that stands out,” Hansbury said. “Nothing that I would want printed. Nothing but fun experiences.”