Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz named director of residence life at Syracuse University

Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz named director of residence life at Syracuse UniversityApril 29, 2002Michele M. Jachimmmjachim@syr.edu

Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz, the individual instrumental in establishing the Office of Residential Life at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. over 10 years ago, will be the new director of Syracuse University’s Office of Residence Life effective July 1. She served as a residence hall director at Syracuse University in the late 1980s.

“Rebecca’s expertise in, commitment to, and passion for developing residential communities that help students excel academically as well as personally and socially were qualifications that impressed the search committee tremendously,” says Barry L. Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs. “I am pleased that Rebecca is returning to Syracuse University. Her credentials and reputation as a residence life professional are outstanding.”

With the assistance of students and staff, Reed Kantrowitz established a residential life program at Hamilton in the early 1990s. She was responsible for all aspects of the development of the program, from creating housing and employment contracts and designing the office space to training professional staff and revitalizing the residence hall council.

As the director of residential life, Reed Kantrowitz oversees a residential life program that offers a wide array of living and learning options for students. She also serves as the college’s assistant dean of students and works closely with the student- and faculty-member judicial board to facilitate the college judicial process. Throughout her career, she has played a significant role in several campus initiatives to strengthen the relationship between academic and residential life.

“I was enthusiastic about applying for this position because the Office of Residence Life at Syracuse University has a reputation for implementing progressive, diverse and student development-oriented programs,” Reed Kantrowitz says. “My first professional experience in residence life, as a residence hall director at SU in the 1980s, was a very positive and formative one. I am thrilled to return to SU to take on new challenges and work with a team of talented individuals who have a student-centered philosophy.”

In addition to her professional experiences at Hamilton and Syracuse, Reed Kantrowitz has held residence life positions at the University of California at Berkeley and Niagara University. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Allegheny College and a master’s degree in education with a concentration in counseling from Niagara University. She is a doctoral candidate in higher education in SU’s School of Education.

Her professional affiliations include the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), the Association for Student Judicial Affairs (ASJA), the Association of College and University Housing Officers (ACUHO), the College Student Personnel Association of New York (CSPA), and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).