Residence Life & Housing Staff
All residence halls have student and/or full-time staff members living in them. Staff members are responsible for helping establish and maintain an environment which is supportive of the academic mission of the college and which encourages the development of all students.
What is an Assistant Director (AD)?
Assistant Directors are full-time professional, live-in staff members responsible for the overall operation of the residence halls. They have graduate degrees in student development or a related field and have had previous experience working with college students and student groups.
What is a Resident Advisor (RA)?
A Resident Advisor is an undergraduate student serving on the residence life staff who is responsible for a number of residents. The RA assists in the social, educational, cultural, and community development of students on the floor and in the residence hall. The RA serves as a resource for campus services, community builders, programmers, and administrators and helps promote our mission to provide students with safe and comfortable living environment. The RA spends a significant amount of time getting to know residents as individuals and generating enthusiasm in bringing students together to create floor and hall communities.
What is a Head Resident Advisor (HRA)?
A Head Resident Advisor does everything a RA does; but has additional responsibilities like advising Neighborhood Council and assisting the ADs in all their work.
What is a Greek Resident Manager (GRM)?
The GRM assists in social, educational, cultural development of greek students. A GRM is an undergraduate staff member who is directly responsible for the operation of the fraternity and sorority areas in regard to room inventories, damages, roster reconciliation and physical plant/housekeeping needs.
Meet The Professional Staff
Chris Drew
Director of Residence Life & Housing
540-375-2308
drew@roanoke.edu
Chris serves as the senior housing officer and provides executive leadership for all aspects of Residence Life & Housing. He focuses on strategic management and creating an engaging and inclusive on-campus living environment that supports student learning and development. That includes leading efforts to expand living-learning programs as well as working closely with campus partners to update residence facilities. Most recently, Chris served as Director of Student Housing and Residence Life at Cameron University. Earlier in his career, he served in Residence Life positions at Elmhurst University, Franklin College, and Earlham College. Chris earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana State University, where he served as a Resident Assistant and a graduate Hall Director. Chris has been involved with regional housing associations and ACUHO-l, including serving on the Public Policy Advisory Committee. He enjoys building community on campus with students, faculty, and staff and making a positive impact on the student experience. Chris also enjoys nature, movies, music, reading, travel, and spending time with family and friends.
Ellasen Spangler
Senior Assistant Director
540-375-2308
spangler@roanoke.edu
Ellasen oversees the RAs and HRAs, as well as the West Side Neighborhood of campus, including the Wortmann Complex (Blue Ridge, Shenandoah, and Tabor), Catawba Hall, Chesapeake Hall, and Afton Complex. Ellasen is a recent graduate of Roanoke College receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a concentration in Screen Studies. Along with her education at Roanoke, she managed Event Staff for two years and was an RA for three years. She was a recipient of the VACHUO Programing award in 2019, Returning RA of the Year award in 2022, and was inducted into the Media Arts Hall of Fame in 2022. She is focused on creating safe places for students and advocating for the health and wellness for others. In her free time, Ellasen enjoys reading, filmmaking, walking with her dog, Carl, and spending time with her family and friends.
Morgan Hancock
Assistant Director
540-375-2308
mohancock@roanoke.edu
Morgan oversees the RAs and HRAs, as well as the Southside Neighborhood of campus (Marion, Barlett, Smith, Crawford, and Chalmers). Morgan graduated from Ferrum College in 2020 with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). Creating safe spaces and advocating for student well-being has always been a passion of hers. Morgan is dedicated to working with the Residents, to build a strong sense of community where everyone feels comfortable and empowered. Morgan looks forward to collaborate with all of the residents to develop initiatives that promote student health and happiness. Most importantly, Morgan is looking forward to getting to know each of the residents personally and fostering meaningful relationships. Outside of work, Morgan love spending time with my family, friends, and my furry companion (her dog!).