Staff from the Office of Residence Life and Housing at Wake Forest were recognized for their work at this year’s North Carolina Housing Officers (NCHO) conference in Greensboro, NC. The 2022 NCHO Conference took place October 17-19, 2022 to help professionals to come “Together Towards Tomorrow”.
Gene Washington was recognized as NCHO’s Outstanding New Professional. The Outstanding New Professional Award recognizes a colleague in the first three years of professional-level employment in Housing and Residence Life who displays exemplary service to the field and their own institution.
Washington joined the Residence Life and Housing team in 2021 after completing his master’s degree at Rowan University. In his Community Director role, Washington oversees the communities of Dogwood and Magnolia as well as North Campus and Student Apartments.
Erin Schneller was recognized as NCHO’s Outstanding Mid-Level Professional. The Outstanding Mid-Level Professional Award recognizes a colleague who is within 3 to 7 years of professional-level employment in Housing and Residence Life. The recipient must display a commitment to exemplary service to the field and their own institution; this includes involvement within the profession, development of junior staff members, and exceptional commitment and works to further the mission of Housing and Residence Life.
Schneller joined the Residence Life and Housing team in 2021 from the College of Coastal Georgia, where she served as a Residence Hall Director. Schneller received her master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2019. As a Community Director, Schneller oversees the communities of Kitchin, Poteat, and Huffman.
In addition to being recognized with awards, Schneller and Washington joined other staff from Wake Forest’s Office of Residence Life and Housing in being elected to leadership roles with the North Carolina Housing Officers (NCHO) for the 2023 year.
- Joey Gemuenden, who serves as a Community Director overseeing the Babcock, Bostwick, and Johnson communities, will return to the Executive Board as a Member-at-Large.
- Medina Thompson, the Manager of Staff Training and Development within the Office of Residence Life and Housing, will serve NCHO as their Communications Coordinator.
- Gia Rimi serves as an Assistant Director of Residence Life with a focus on residential conduct within the Office of Residence Life and Housing. Gia Rimi will represent NCHO as their State Representative to the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO).
- Erin Schneller will provide leadership to NCHO over the next three years by serving first as President-Elect, followed by her Presidential Year, and finally a year as Past President.
- Gene Washington is returning to the Executive Board as the liaison for the Association of Residence Halls for the Carolinas (ARHC)