Malaika Turner, the associate director of IUP’s Office of Housing,
Residential Living, and Dining, was recently selected to participate in the
20th annual Regional Entry-Level Institute, to be held this spring in Amherst,
Massachusetts.
According to its website, the RELI “is
an intensive professional development seminar featuring a range of activities
for entry-level professionals who aspire to mid-level positions in residence
life and beyond.”
It will be held May
30 to June 1 at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst. Turner’s application
was accepted by the Mid-Atlantic Association of College and University Housing
Officers.
“My supervisor made me aware
of this opportunity,” Turner said, “and after doing a little research of what
it entailed, I realized that the attendees would really benefit from my
experience in residence life, along with my love for motivating others.”
Turner will present on resident education and student behavior, and she
will mentor three professionals.
“Malaika is uniquely qualified to serve as both an instructor and as a
mentor,” said Sondra Dennison, IUP’s executive director of Housing,
Residential Living, and Dining. “(She) has a strong reputation as someone who can build bridges
between constituencies within the Division of Student Affairs, at the
institutional level and regionally. She is an in-demand speaker, and she is
quick on her feet.”
Turner said she hopes to gain some insight into continuing her career in
higher education with an eye on someday working in the classroom.
“One day I hope to teach on the college level, so I think this will be a
great start,” she said. “This may also open up opportunities to serve as a
faculty member at a national institute. One of the best parts is that I get to
mentor young professionals, and that just feeds the motivator in me.”