Northwestern College’s two newest Resident Directors (RDs), Audrey Leyen, RD of Stegenga Hall, and Jonah Tews, RD of North Suites, both 2022 graduates of NW, joined the Residence Life staff this school year. The role of an RD is expansive, including office work, event planning, meetings, outreach and maintenance, but, for Leyen and Tews, relationship-building is at the heart of it all.
Tews served as an RA in Colenbrander Hall for three years, during his time at NW, while pursuing a degree in exercise science. “I thought I was going to be a strength and conditioning coach leaving here,” said Tews. “My junior or senior year, I was like, ‘I really do not want to do that.’”
So, Tews started exploring other opportunities. “I had kind of asked my RD, ‘What is your job? What do you do all day?’—questions of ‘Would I be good at that?’” Tews said. “I decided to—instead of being a strength coach—go and get my masters.”
Tews completed a master’s degree in higher education from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. During his two years there, Tews worked as graduate assistant in Residence Life.
When Tews saw the position of RD of North Suites opened back in March, he jumped at the opportunity to apply, because of his own experience at NW and the school’s unique approach to the RD position. “The model that NW has for Residence Life is something that a lot of colleges are going away from,” said Tews. “The RDs maybe do not live on campus anymore or they have gone to an area coordinator where someone is over multiple buildings—things like that.”
Tews is eager to continue relationship-building within North Suites. “I think a small building suits my personality well,” Tews said. “The depth that I can get into relationship to those guys really excites me.”
Leyen, a 2022 graduate of NW, knew that she was called to serve within Residence Life by her senior year of college, when she took the position of resident assistant (RA) of Stegenga Hall’s third north. “I loved the opportunity, not that you always need the title, but to just be able to connect with people,” said Leyen. “As an RA my senior year, I knew that if the RD job would open that I would apply for it.”
The same passion for connection that drew Leyen to Residence Life allowed her to find fulfillment post-college, working for two years for Sanford Sheldon Medical Center in Sheldon, IA. “I got to help deliver babies but also be there for hospice care,” said Leyen. “I just love nursing, and how you can just be with people through all stages of life, and that is kind of the reason I came back to be an RD, because of that ability to be with people in their highs and their lows.”
Leyen approaches her role as RD with humility and intentionality, driven by her faith. “I think the legacy, for me, is more ‘What can the Lord do through Steg?’ and the ability to steward this space well,” said Leyen. “One of my biggest goals is that no one would leave Steg not hearing the gospel or at least experiencing the gospel lived out.”
Sarah Lantz, the current RA of Stegenga Hall’s third north, counts it a privilege to have had Leyen as her freshman year RA and to now serve under Leyen’s leadership as an RA herself. “She created a very cozy and inclusive space on the wing, and it has been really amazing to see that carry over into Steg as a whole through Audrey’s new position as the RD,” said Lantz. “She has such a deep love for the women she serves and is very intentional about fostering those relationships.”
Lantz has a positive outlook on the future of Stegenga Hall under Leyen’s care. “She brings so many fresh ideas and her own kind of spunk that create a sense of newness and change in Steg, while still holding onto the community of Steg that we love so much,” said Lantz.
