October 06, 2006
Julie Payne named University Housing director
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Julie A. Payne, director of residence life at the University of Southern Indiana, is the new director of University Housing at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Larry H. Dietz, vice chancellor for student affairs, announced the appointment yesterday (Thursday, Oct. 5).
Payne's appointment is subject to ratification by the SIU Board of Trustees. Payne begins her duties Dec. 4.
"We are excited to have a person of such recognized experience and background join the Student Affairs team," Dietz said. "She is highly regarded in her field and she inherits a quality staff. The combination will bring new energy and vision to the department."
Payne has 11 years experience with residence life and housing programs. She joined USI, which is in Evansville, Ind., in July 1998 as an assistant director of residence life, and became director in June 2001. She also served in housing positions at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, from July 1996 to July 1998 and Texas A&M University from August 1995 to May 1996.
At USI, Payne's responsibilities included coordinating the Division of Student Affairs' strategic planning process, and as director, she developed and managed daily and auxiliary budgets of $8.5 million. She managed a residence life program of 3,200 residents in residence halls, single and family apartments, Greek housing, and living-learning communities, and also achieved a 27 percent improvement in residence life retention rates from 2001 to 2005.
Payne replaces Edward L. Jones, who left SIUC earlier this year to become associate vice president for student affairs and campus life at California State University, Sacramento. Lisa H. Marks, an associate director of housing at SIUC, is serving as interim director.
Payne knows Jones and assistant housing director Elizabeth A. Scally through her involvement with the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers, and she knows other University employees through her work on various committees.
"I really enjoyed their outlook and obvious dedication to the University," Payne said.
"There are so many exciting things they are working on now and things they are looking forward to and I'm excited to be a part of it," she said.
Payne, 35, is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up in Webster, Texas, a suburb of Houston. She earned a bachelor's degree in genetics in 1994, and a master's degree in student affairs administration in higher education in 1996 from Texas A&M. She is working on a doctorate in educational leadership, administration and foundation at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.
The SIUC housing director's responsibilities include the total on-campus housing operation, which consists of fiscal operations, facilities management, residence life, residence hall dining, contracts and marketing efforts. University Housing employs 200 full-time staff and more than 600 student employees. The director manages residence halls for 4,700 students and 200 Greek Row residents as well as 700 apartments for married and single students and 15 graduate student apartments.
Recruiting and retaining high-quality faculty and staff is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint the University is following as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2019.
Julie A. Payne
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