John Terry
1130 University Rd. Las Vegas,NV
Summary
First-generation professional with over ten years of experience in residence life, supervising diverse teams, managing residential communities, and advising Residence Hall Associations. Focused on equipping students with essential life skills and resources, driven by the belief that connection is the antidote to student isolation.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Residential Life Coordinator
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
06.2020 - Current
- Residential Life Training Leadership: Directed the 2026 Spring RA Training for the department; utilized data from fall surveys to curate specialized sessions with the Ombuds Office, University Police, Risk Management, Career Services, fellow RLCs, and Housing Operations.
- Staff Supervision and Team Building: Supervise and mentor a team of 12 Resident Assistants. Facilitate intentional team building and established a localized mission statement to align staff efforts with departmental goals. Lead all aspects of the staff lifecycle, including recruitment, hiring, and performance evaluation.
- Specialized Community Oversight: Managed the daily operations and student leader support for diverse Living Learning Communities (LLCs), including Stonewall Suites (LGBTQIA+), Howell Town (Black Student Community), Hospitality Hall, and the Honors Floor.
- Curriculum & Staff Development: Leading a soft launch to restructure hall programming from traditional activities to intentional learning experiences; piloted the principles of Academic Achievement, Personal Growth, and Community Engagement while training the RA team on drafting, implementing, and measuring effective learning outcomes.
- Strategic Advocacy & Basic Needs: Secured and coordinated "pop up" pantries for housing residents to remove barriers to student persistence; currently collaborating with campus partners to mitigate transportation issues for residents accessing the university food pantry.
- Data Informed Intervention: Partnered with the Assistant Director of Residential Life to interpret annual data and new benchmarking metrics; analyzed Dayton Complex first year assessments to lead targeted 1-1 outreach for at risk students.
- Search Committee Leadership: Chaired departmental search committees in 2023 and 2024 to oversee the recruitment, interviewing, and equitable hiring of professional Residential Life staff.
- Crisis Management & Conduct: Manage rotating on call emergency response for 1,800 students and serve as a hearing officer for judicial conduct cases to resolve policy violations and support student accountability.
Residence Director
Utah State University
Logan, UT
07.2016 - 05.2020
- Professional Staff Supervision: Directly supervised a full-time Academic Success Coordinator and 8 Resident Assistants; mentored the team in executing initiatives centered on Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles, Personal Growth, and Social Justice.
- Student Leadership Mentorship: Partnered with the RHA Advisor to support RHA and NRHH growth; served as a Professional Mentor for regional and national conferences, managing delegations of 20+ students and overseeing award bids and logistics.
- Academic Partnerships & LLCs: Managed Living-Learning Communities (Fine Arts, Education, Outdoor Adventures) in collaboration with faculty to bridge residential life with academic curriculum.
- Inclusive Support & Advocacy: Directed support efforts for "Aggies Elevated," providing students with cognitive disabilities access to academic resources and life-skills programming to foster campus integration.
- Collaborative Programming: Orchestrated partnerships with Financial Aid, Admissions, and Dining Services to deliver holistic resources and scholarship opportunities to 1,000+ residents.
- Data-Driven Assessment: Developed performance metrics using Net Promoter Scores to identify opportunity gaps and improve service delivery and resident satisfaction.
- Emergency, Compliance & Conduct: Managed on call crisis response for 4,000 students and served as a hearing officer for judicial conduct and policy violations; facilitated staff training on Title IX, Clery Act, and bystander intervention protocols.
Hall Director
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, NE
05.2014 - 05.2016
- Operational Leadership & Supervision: Managed daily operations for a 385-bed residence hall and supervised a team of 13 Resident Assistants; directed programming centered on academic achievement, identity development, and leadership.
- Collaborative Programming & Training: Partnered with campus stakeholders to design and deliver workshops on student development theory and leadership; served on departmental committees to standardize hiring and training initiatives.
- Proactive Academic Intervention: Analyzed mid-semester faculty concern lists to identify struggling students; conducted 1-1 outreach and academic coaching meetings to connect residents with specialized campus resources.
- Student Leadership Advising: Advised a 12-member student leadership council, mentoring them in advocacy, large-scale event implementation, and initiatives that increased student belonging.
- Crisis Management & Conduct: Provided on-call emergency response for 2,100 students and served as a hearing officer for judicial conduct, resolving policy violations and establishing behavioral standards.
Residence Hall Association Advisor
University of Nebraska Kearney
Kearney, NE
05.2014 - 05.2015
- Student Leadership Advising: Advised a 5 member student executive board and provided intentional professional development and training on organizational management and student development theory.
- Large Scale Event Oversight: Directed the strategic planning and implementation of campus wide engagement initiatives and advocacy programs serving a population of 7,500 students.
- National Delegation Management: Supported RHA and NRHH members through the application, registration, and travel logistics for Regional, Business, and National conferences.
- Inclusive Community Building: Facilitated the development of safe space communities for underrepresented residents to ensure an inclusive environment within the residence halls.
- Award Winning Support: Recognized as Advisor of the Month twice during the 2014-2015 academic year for excellence in student leadership support and community development.
Event/Volunteer/Community Outreach Coordinator
Cache Humane Society
Logan, UT
05.2012 - 05.2014
- Community Engagement Leadership: Led major local initiatives and coordinated large scale events such as Super Adoption Weekend and the Sweat for a Pet 5k to drive community participation.
- Volunteer Management: Managed a team of 20 plus volunteers and oversaw the recruitment, scheduling, and interview process for all new volunteer applicants.
- Fundraising & Partnerships: Orchestrated large scale fundraising events including the Annual Benefit Brunch and Links of Love, strengthening community partnerships and securing over $20,000 in donations.
- Marketing & Promotion: Created engaging promotional materials and advertising campaigns for multiple events to boost local involvement in animal welfare programs.
- Administrative Operations: Provided direct assistance to the Executive Director by maintaining essential documents, applications, and operational procedures for outreach initiatives.
Education
Master of Science - Education – Student Affairs and Counseling
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, NE05.2016
Bachelor of Fine Art - Acting Emphasis
Utah State University
Logan, UT05.2013
Awards & Professional Development
Certifications & Training
- Leadership & Supervision: Management Training Academy (UNLV, 2024) , Supervision Certificate Program (Academic Impressions, 2023) , and Inclusive Leadership Certification (Academic Impressions, 2024).
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: Outsmarting Implicit Bias (Harvard University, 2025) , Fostering a Culture of Belonging (ACUE, 2024) , and DEI 101, Implicit Bias, and Intersectionality in Higher Ed (Academic Impressions, 2023).
- Change Management & Communication: Completed a 2025 UNLV HR series focusing on the Change Management Continuum, Strategies for Dialogue, and Adaptive Mindsets.
- Safety & Compliance: AED and CPR Certification (American Heart Association, 2025) and Title IX and Mandatory Reporter Training (Academic Impressions, 2023).
Honors & Recognition
- Outstanding Student Staff Team of the Year, UNLV (2022).
- Graduate Assistant of the Year, University of Nebraska at Kearney (2015).
- Advisor of the Month, UNK (Oct. & Nov. 2014).
- National Excellence in Student Leadership Award, National Collegiate Leadership Conference (2013).
- Outstanding Leadership Service Award, National Residence Hall Honorary (2013).
Leadership & Committees
- Committee Member, WACUHO (Nov. 2025–Present): Currently serving on the New Professionals and Mid Level Professionals committees to support regional housing initiatives.
- Member, Q:UNLV LGBTQIA+ Alliance (2024–Present): Partner with faculty and staff to promote the recruitment, retention, and advancement of LGBTQIA+ students and staff through educational advocacy and networking.
- Committee Member, Latinx Faculty and Staff Alliance (2023–Present): Contribute to a climate of support for Latinx personnel and students by evaluating and voting on funding requests for university events and services.
- Chair, UNLV Residence Life Coordinator Search (2023, 2024): Led hiring processes, coordinated department and campus partner feedback, and ensured equitable search practices.
- Corporate Relations Coordinator, AIMHO Executive Board (2019–2021): Managed corporate relations and sponsored initiatives supporting housing professionals across the region.
- Chair, Utah RA Drive-In Conference (2019–2020): Directed statewide leadership conference planning, logistics, and post event assessment.
- Awards & Recognition Chair, AIMHO (2018–2019): Modernized regional recognition by introducing the AIMHO Strategic Initiatives Award and the AIMHO Professional Development Award, both of which remain in annual rotation.
- Member, USU Allies Committee (2017–2020): Supported inclusive programming and policy development for LGBTQIA+ students.
- Chair, UNK RA Training Committee (2014–2016): Designed and assessed training curriculum on leadership, identity, and crisis response.
Operational Systems & Developmental Frameworks
- Housing, Conduct, & University Systems: StarRez, eRezLife, Roompact, The Housing Director (THD), Maxient, and Workday.
- Campus Operations & Access: Salto, Onity, DocuSign, Asana, and Canvas.
- Digital Productivity & Design: Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites, Forms), Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Creative Cloud (Express, Illustrator, Acrobat), and Canva.
- Strategic Frameworks: CAS Standards, NASPA/ACPA Professional Competencies, and NIMS/ICS (Emergency Management).
- Leadership & Advocacy Frameworks: Restorative Justice, Solution Focused and Person Centered coaching, Chickering’s 7 Vectors, and Johari’s Window.
Timeline
Residential Life Coordinator
University of Nevada Las Vegas
06.2020 - Current
Residence Director
Utah State University
07.2016 - 05.2020
Residence Hall Association Advisor
University of Nebraska Kearney
05.2014 - 05.2015
Hall Director
University of Nebraska at Kearney
05.2014 - 05.2016
Event/Volunteer/Community Outreach Coordinator
Cache Humane Society
05.2012 - 05.2014
Master of Science - Education – Student Affairs and Counseling
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Bachelor of Fine Art - Acting Emphasis
Utah State University