Student to staff: Addi Alford transitions to RD position after 2024 graduation
Addi Alford (‘24) knew from the tour of MC in her sophomore year of high school that she would find her home at Maryville College. She didn’t apply to any other colleges, knowing that MC was the place for her.
Four years on campus as a student solidified this, and her community involvement as a Bonner scholar, Ambassador and Resident Assistant helped establish strong roots in Maryville.
“It was almost a no-brainer to stay in the area because all I’ve met and known for the last four years is Maryville College, and I love it,” said Alford, resident director and resident engagement coordinator this year. “I loved being an RA, so being an RD would be great.”
The transition from student to staff is an experience that many of the Residence Life staff are familiar with, including Resident Directors Alex McCullough and Sarah Rackley. Both McCullough and Alford say that the transition is an interesting one, with Alford adding that this opportunity with MC and the feeling of home has allowed her to be comfortable as she transitions into adulthood.
“It was not as easy as you would think. It can be difficult to navigate past relationships with former supervisors and professors in a new way,” McCullough said, speaking from his own experience. “It is even more difficult to navigate relationships with students you were formerly friends with. It takes a lot of intentional, honest conversations to navigate that appropriately.”
About her coworkers, Alford said: “they all experienced the weird transition, and I knew them as students.”
Their past experiences have been similar to hers this semester as she navigates a new role.
“The transition has been weird, especially because I have friends who still go here,” said Alford. “It’s a little hard to find those boundaries.”
As well as the boundaries set with former friends, setting them at home is important to Alford, who now lives in Copeland Hall. Alford says she tries to be available to RAs but that if she gets a knock at her door when she is not the Staff Member On Duty (SMOD), she may not answer it. This balance is important to Alford.
“Once I’m at home, I’m at home,” she said. “That way I can find a way to have life outside of work—because I live and eat where I work.
As the newcomer on the staff side of things, Alford has had some guidance. As well as taking on the title of RD, she is also the Resident Engagement Coordinator, a title which includes work on RA training, enrichment and recruitment. She plans to lead the RA training and enrichment program this winter.
“We had early conversations about being peers and how I would still be a resource in any way I could be for them,” McCullough said. “It is really rewarding to have former students now work in the same field and office that I do.”
Alford’s involvement as a student during her time also has its benefits to a transition into this job.
“I like having institutional knowledge,” Alford said. “It’s very easy to come into a job and not know anything, but I know so much of what’s going on, it’s nice to continue to build that knowledge.”
Coming right from graduation poses an interesting challenge to a new employee of Maryville College, one that Alford mentioned. She said that the part she misses the most is the student life, though she finds ways to stay involved.
“I do miss the ‘being a student’ part,” Alford said. “Sometimes I catch myself almost walking to class.”
“In the halls, it’s so easy to be involved,” she said. “Especially when programs are happening and I get to hang out with my RA’s. It’s nice, and I like knowing that I’m still a part of the campus community.”