Serving South Campus, Off-Campus, and Commuter Students
Our Apartment and Off-Campus Living teams have a variety staff and student leaders so support our operations, programmatic initiatives, and community development.
- Residence Directors (RDs) – oversee all programming and community development in the residential areas. RDs serve a team leaders for our Resident Advisors and Community Ambassadors.
- Residence Hall Operations Coordinator (RHOCs) – oversee our main desk operations which include mail and package services as well as spare key management. The RHOCs also and supervise the Main Desk Assistants who work the desks.
- Residence Advisors (RAs) – strive to build connections among residents, provide programs, and facilitate the development of floor and hall community.
- Main Desk Assistants (MDAs) – student employees who work our main main desks providing customer service and manage the day-to-day mail and package distribution.
- Community Ambassadors (CAs) – student employees who provide support to program facilitation for students living on South Campus and in the off-campus neighborhoods (as well as commuters).
Apartment and Off-Campus Living Staff
Our Residence Directors Residence Hall Operations Coordinator provide dedicated student and operational support as well as programming initiatives to the students living in the South Campus Skyhalls and Apartments.
Aisha Shanes
Aisha Shanes serves as the Residence Director for Syracuse University’s Skyhalls and South Campus Apartments. She is also an adjunct professor in the Syracuse area, teaching communication courses. Aisha earned her bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State University and a Master of Arts in Communication from Virginia State University. She brings experience in student affairs, curriculum development, and fostering belonging among communities
Chelsea Buck
Chelsea has been with Residential Living for 2 years. They are an alum of Rochester Institute of Technology and graduated with their Bachelors in American Sign Language Interpreting in 2020. Their favorite parts of their job are planning events and getting to know residents across campus. In their free time they love thrift shopping, going to concerts, and trying new restaurants.
Kimmie Barr
Kimmie Barr is the Resident Hall Operations Coordinator at Sky Halls, Orange Hall, and Milton Hall and she is originally from Syracuse. Kimmie Barr has been with Residential Living for 2 years now. Before working at Syracuse, she worked at The Sheraton Hotel. Kimmie is passionate about her family. When she isn’t at work she likes to take weekend trips with her kids.
Our off-campus living team provides dedicated student support and programming initiatives to students that live off-campus and commute to campus.
Alex Root
Alex joined Residential Living in January 2023 as a Residence Director for Apartment and Off-Campus Living. He develops and implements large-scale programmatic initiatives for off-campus and commuter students, and supports the South Campus living experience. Alex has numerous academic degrees: a master’s degree in Business Administration from Florida International University; a master’s degree in Sports Management from Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea; a certificate of advanced study in Intercollegiate Athletic Advising & Support from Syracuse University; a bachelor’s degree in Management & Leadership and with a minor in Communications from LeMoyne College; and an associate’s degree in Business Administration from Onondaga Community College. Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending time with his family and friends, walking his dog, working out, helping others, and always trying to better himself overall.
Rachel Froelick
Rachel Froelick has been with Syracuse University for 4 years. She is a Resident Director for Apartment & Off-Campus Living, focusing on off-campus and commuter students. Her favorite part of her job is assisting students with their housing searches and providing them with the skills and resources that they’ll need later in life. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Arts, & Humanities from Keystone College and a master’s from Purdue University in Higher Education Administration. Rachel is originally from Wilkes-Barre, PA but has always been a fan of Syracuse athletics. In her free time, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband, two kids, and fur baby or reading psychological thrillers while drinking iced coffee.
Eric Nestor
Eric returned to Residential Living in 2021 as Director of Apartment and Off-Campus Living, where he oversees South Campus, off-campus, and commuter student communities along with department operations, technology, and budget. He previously served as Associate/Interim Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities (2013–2021) and held multiple roles in Residence Life (1998–2013). He has contributed to university wide efforts through the Chancellor’s Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence, the Threat Assessment Management Team, and the Behavioral Coordinating Committee. Eric earned both his M.S. in Counseling/College Student Personnel Work and his B.A. in History from Shippensburg University (PA). Outside of work, he enjoys family time, rooting for the Syracuse Orange, Miami Dolphins, Florida Panthers, and New York Yankees, and relaxing with beach trips, hiking, or a good political/spy thriller.
Joe Personte
Joe joined Residential Living in 2019 as Assistant Director of Apartment and Off-Campus Living. In his role, Joe assists his director overseeing the South Campus, off-campus, and commuter student communities. Prior to joining SL, Joe served as the Manager of Off-Campus and Commuter Services from 2017 to 2019. In addition, Joe previously worked in the Whitman School of Management managing the IMPRESS Program and as an academic advisor. Joe started his career at Syracuse University in the Office of Admissions. Joe has been on Syracuse University’s campus serving students since 2000. Joe bleeds Orange as well as Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres royal blue! Joe enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and his dog. Joe’s undergraduate degree was earned at SUNY Fredonia where he earned his degree in elementary education. Joe served for 10 years as an elementary school teacher here in Central New York and in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Joe enjoys sports, the outdoors, spending time with his bandmates, and classic rock.
Melinda Secor
Melinda has worked at Syracuse University for over 20 years. She enjoys fun with family, good films and books, good friends, and her cat.