Jameelee Ford
Albany,NY
Summary
Dynamic higher education professional with a proven track record at the University at Albany, enhancing student engagement by 25% through innovative programming and collaboration. Skilled in event planning and conflict resolution, I excel in fostering community and belonging, while effectively managing budgets and leading diverse teams to achieve institutional goals.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Director for Student Engagement & Belonging
University at Albany
Albany, USA
01.2025 - 01.2026
- Create and develop sustainable, systematic initiatives and opportunities to increase student retention, with the goal of increasing students' sense of belonging, involvement in campus activities, and well-being.
- Oversee the new student orientation program to ensure that entering students and families experience a seamless transition to the University at Albany.
- Increase student engagement by 25% within our 4 student resource centers (Women's, Gender & Sexuality, Interfaith and Multicultural)
- Cultivated relationships with campus partners to enhance continuity and synergy among programs for new students and their families.
- Led planning, human resources, policy development, operations, facilities, and budgetary management for all reporting units.
- Managed undergraduate student government, focusing on risk management, fiscal responsibility, and student leadership development.
- Prepare financial reports, and engage in the budget review process for the areas that serve as direct reports.
- Managed custodial operations to ensure cleanliness and maintenance of facilities for the almost $3,000,000 in activity fee monies provided to undergraduate and graduate student governments.
- Serve as a strong proponent of student learning and success by promoting University and Divisional learning outcomes, and program assessment.
Assistant Director for Alumni Quad/Residential Housing
University at Albany
Albany, USA
08.2024 - 12.2024
- Supervise a community of over 300 transfer, upperclassmen and international students
- Supervised 1 full-time professional staff and 2 Graduate Assistants to ensure effective support for over 300 students
- Managed daily functions of residential housing, including facilities, room changes, and judicial sanctioning, to maintain a supportive living environment
- Collaborated with on-campus partners, including University Auxiliary Services, Facilities Management Operations Center, and Dean of Students Office, to enhance student services and housing operations
Assistant Director for Community Development
University at Albany
Albany, USA
07.2017 - 12.2024
- Develop co-curricular programs, workshops, and large-scale events engaging over 40% of the student population
- Collaborated with campus departments including undergraduate education, student activities, campus recreation, center of leadership & service, and orientation & transition programs to streamline community initiatives
- Develop a programming model that creates community/relationship building within the residence halls
- Supervise logistics, budget, planning and overall organization or collaboration of campus-wide events such as Clash, Big Event, Fall Festival, Great Danetopia
- Manage a $140,000 budget for residential student programming and large-scale events
- Supervised and trained 7 full-time professional staff in first-year and second-year living areas, enhancing team effectiveness and support for students
- Supervised and trained a Graduate Assistant to oversee daily programming functions
- Assist with the organization of students to our Annual Convocation ceremony for incoming students
- Spearhead the implementation of the first LGBTQ+ living community on Dutch Quad-The Harvey House
Supervisor for C.H.A.R.G.E Program
University at Albany
Albany, USA
08.2018 - 06.2022
- Supervise and train 6 CHARGE Peer Educators and 4 Intercultural Peer Educators
- Delivered cross-cultural programs, dialogues, and trainings to 7,000+ residential students, fostering inclusivity and understanding.
- Conducted NCBI and Intersections trainings for incoming students, promoting allyship and addressing systemic racism and inclusion.
- Facilitated ECPY-Resident Assistant academic course, enhancing students' leadership and community engagement skills.
- Diversity collaboration initiative with the Office of Intercultural Student Engagement at the University at Albany
Assistant Director for Residential Life Housing/First Year Living
University at Albany
Albany, USA
08.2014 - 06.2018
- Oversaw 1,200 first-year students across 8 residential halls, fostering a supportive living environment
- Collaborated with undergraduate education to enhance Living Learning Communities' effectiveness in residence halls
- Manage the daily administrative functions of the residential living areas (room changes, facility concerns, judicial sanctioning)
- Supervised training and development for 37 student staff and 5 professional staff, strengthening team capabilities
- Engaged with parents, students, faculty, and staff to address concerns and provide guidance
Summer Orientation Director
University at Albany
Albany, USA
06.2014 - 08.2014
- Coordinated first year/Transfer Orientation check-in/check-out processes for eight summer conferences, ensuring smooth transitions for participants
- Facilitated logistics for hosting during Transfer Family Orientation events, enhancing family engagement and support
- Organized staffing patterns for student staff responsibilities to ensure comprehensive coverage and effective support
- Maintain all maintenance and facilities requests for Orientation housing and Key shop requests.
- Provide emergency back-up assistance on a rotating basis for students and families.
Residence Hall Director
University at Albany
Albany, USA
08.2012 - 08.2014
- Supervise three residence halls with 300 plus first year resident's students and eight Resident Assistants
- Provide training and guidance to Resident Assistants during small staff and one-on-one meetings
- Conduct fall orientation training for new and returning staff members. Created a workshop session on Residential Life policies and Common Practices for 40-50 student staff members
- Created conflict resolution and community building activities that decreased student conflict in residence halls
- Oversaw Academic Outreach Program initiatives to enhance student engagement and support
- Served on Department of Residential Life Assessment Committee to evaluate and improve residential programs
Education
Master of Science - Innovative Leadership
Buffalo State College
Buffalo, NY05.2009
Bachelor of Science - Public Relations/Journalism
Utica College of Syracuse University
Utica, NY05.2007
Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Suite
- Conflict resolution
- Event planning
- Collaboration strategies
- Community engagement
- Effective communication
- Risk management
- Cross-cultural programming
- Mentorship training
- Proficient in Advocate-University incident reporting system
- Proficient in Odyssey- University housing system
- Proficient in Blackboard/Brightspace
Awards
- President's Award for Excellence- University at Albany, 04/01/25
- The Best of CSPA-NY Award for Presentation Excellence, 10/01/24
- Division of Student Affairs Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award, 05/01/21
- Professional Staff Member of the Year Award, 05/01/13
- Dean Robert Woods Student Life Award, 04/01/07
- Tau Mu Epsilon-Public Relations Honorary Fraternity, 04/01/07
- Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities, 04/01/07
- Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.-Iota Rho Chapter, 12/01/04
Professional Development
- Foundations of Leading Change in Higher Education with Distinction-SUNY CPD 11/15/2025
- United States Health Promoting Campuses Network Summit- Co-Chair, 10/01/24
- Division of Student Affairs Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council-Chair, 08/01/21
- Well-Being Collective Inaugural Committee- adoption of the Okanagan Charter, 03/01/21
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mini-Grant- Chair ($150,000 budget), 08/01/20
- NASPA Region II Mid-Manager's Institute- Daemen College, 06/01/18
- NYS Implicit Bias Training Conference Facilitator/Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Fall 2017
- Student Experience Committee member/Division of Student Affairs, Fall 2017
- Resident Director Search Committee-Chair, Residential Life, University at Albany, 03/01/15
- NASPA Conference, San Antonio, Texas, 03/01/17
- NASPA Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, 03/01/16
- NASPA Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, 03/01/15
- National Coalition Building Institute Program (NCBI) Buffalo State College Chapter, 04/01/08
Timeline
Director for Student Engagement & Belonging
University at Albany
01.2025 - 01.2026
Assistant Director for Alumni Quad/Residential Housing
University at Albany
08.2024 - 12.2024
Supervisor for C.H.A.R.G.E Program
University at Albany
08.2018 - 06.2022
Assistant Director for Community Development
University at Albany
07.2017 - 12.2024
Assistant Director for Residential Life Housing/First Year Living
University at Albany
08.2014 - 06.2018
Summer Orientation Director
University at Albany
06.2014 - 08.2014
Residence Hall Director
University at Albany
08.2012 - 08.2014
Master of Science - Innovative Leadership
Buffalo State College
Bachelor of Science - Public Relations/Journalism
Utica College of Syracuse University