For Troy Seehafer, Lakeland’s Director for Residence Life, being a hall director is not just a career, it’s a vocation. After years of working at various recreational camps, Seehafer indicated Lakeland felt like the perfect location to stay involved with young people and be in a position to assist them. “I used to lead year-round camps and was looking for another opportunity where I could still work with young students and have the possibility of building for the future,” he said.
That passion has carried over to his direction of the Residence Life program, whose mission goes far beyond providing housing. “Our mandate is to engage students,” Seehafer said. “It’s about an experience for our students for everything we do.”
Lakeland’s residence life program stands as a small close-knit community with immensely caring staff. “Our staff is our best asset, overall,” he said, speaking of the 26 resident assistants who organize activities to allow students to have fun and be part of a community. “Resident assistance builds a community where all students can make friends and have others who they can count on.”
Despite this tight-knit community, Seehafer cited one of the larger issues for colleges and universities, nationwide — fewer students are attending. “The greatest challenge is enrollment. In 2025, there is going to be a 15% decline in students due to the Great Recession,” he said. Aside from that, money issues make things more difficult. “Inflation and recession, everything costs more, but we receive less money to pay for it.”
The COVID-19 pandemic also changed how students socialize and interact with each other. “Covid changed the way everyone interacts with each other. Students are in their rooms more, having more alone time,” Seehafer said. Which is why his department is trying to engage students more. “Our department is much more proactive by providing more things to students, reaching out to students, getting our staff much more familiar.”
Along with event planning and safe dorm living, residence life is housed under student support. “[For] students who are at risk, we identify who they are, come up with a plan to assist that student, then our staff will come and assist,” Seehafer said. It’s all about creating overall wellness: academically, socially, and emotionally.
There will be students who will be afraid of authority figures in residence halls, but Seehafer has different plans. “We’re not big and scary; we’re here to help you!” he grinned. “We’re invested in you being successful at college and making positive decisions as a young adult.” In every program they start and every student they serve, Lakeland’s Residence Life staff shares one mutual priority: community. As Seehafer describes, “Everything we do is building an experience.”