“To be honest, I wasn’t interested in being an RA; I wanted to focus on my studies. However, as a low-income, first-generation college student, my family didn’t have the financial means to support my education. To put it bluntly, my mom made me apply! Being an RA gave me the income to pursue my education and taught me about important student support resources I may not have known as a first-generation college student. What’s more, becoming an RA changed my career trajectory. I had wanted to work for the foreign service, but instead pursued a master's degree in higher education and student affairs; this led to my current career in international student and scholar services. I am so thankful for the financial freedom and college know-how I gained from being an RA!”
Hannah Thomas '14
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Resident Assistant positions are some of the most important, influential, and rewarding leadership opportunities available to students. For the more than 5,000 alumni who served as Resident Assistants, this was a significant part of their Miami experience and cost savings. To supplement the current stipend compensation provided by the university for Resident Assistants, this fund aims to celebrate RAs with annual scholarship support. RAs can't hold a second campus job, so this fund also helps ensure that we'll never lose a great RA because of other financial needs.
"No matter why we chose to be RAs, whether it was for one year, two or three, we know it was time well spent on not only our own professional development but on the friendships we made along the way. To be able to award a deserving RA some level of scholarship will hopefully allow them to have the same experience we did and allow them to make an impact with less of a financial concern."
Lisa Raterman '89
