Bidding Farewell to a Graduate Resident Director

My office at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is home to two graduate students. These graduate students are resident directors enrolled in the local Student Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE) graduate program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

The partnership between our office and IUP is a great one.  We are able to provide practical experience for these two students, and they have their education paid for in exchange. As an alum of the IUP SAHE program, I can attest that the plethora of assistantships offered is one of the great features of the student affairs master’s program at IUP.

Because our two grad assistants are on a rotating schedule, we welcome a new graduate resident director each year; but that means we lose one, too.

Yesterday was Ms. LaNighta Sales’ last day here at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. She earned her master’s degree earlier this month and has already been offered a job at Miami University of Ohio. She is moving on to “bigger and better” things.

LaNighta (center) with her staff at the end-of-year banquet

Oftentimes we hear about the lessons our supervisors have taught us. However, I am turning the tables today and using this post to talk about a few of the lessons LaNighta has taught me, her supervisor.

LaNighta taught me that professionalism is important. The way you speak, act, and carry yourself does not go unnoticed by those around you. At the end of the day, professionalism will earn you respect.

LaNighta taught me the importance of being genuine. Those around you will appreciate it. Your colleagues, students, and other staff will find it easy to warm up to you if you’re genuine. LaNighta’s staff of RAs and her residents absolutely loved her, and I credit it to the fact that she is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever worked with. Being genuine will also earn you respect.

And, finally, LaNighta taught me the importance of having priorities in life. LaNighta is a woman who knows what she wants out of life. She knows where she wants to be professionally and personally, and I can appreciate that.

Everyone will miss having LaNighta in the office. She’ll go on and prosper, I’m sure of it. She dreams way too big to do otherwise. 

And so this post is dedicated to LaNighta. Thanks for teaching an old dog a few new lessons. Best wishes for a prosperous future.



"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou