2007 grad returns to school, this time as housing director

2007 grad returns to school, this time as housing director
By Jon Knudtson

When Meredith Benson moved out of Tavilla in 2007 after studying student development, I doubt that she thought that she would be moving back into the dorm during the summer of 2010, this time as it’s resident director. She’s not only Tavilla’s resident director though, she’s doing double duty as the director of housing. “The director of housing job was exciting to me,” said Benson. “That is what I used to tell people was my long term career goal. So now I’m doing it which is great”

She’s not completely new to the job though. Benson had an internship in the student development office as a senior. “I knew Terry Charek and Barry Loy,” said Benson, “and was excited about the prospect of maybe working with them again.”

Everything isn’t completely the same for Benson though. Though she’s living in a dorm that’s familiar to her, doing a job similar to the one she held while a student, Benson finds it to be a different experience. “It’s strange to be in a place that I experience in a different capacity,” said Benson. “I feel like I’m outside of the bubble now.” This is easy to understand, as many Gordon students fall into the “Gordon bubble” while at school.

The residents of Tavilla don’t seem to notice a disconnect though. “She seems friendly and calm,” said Paul Wright, a senior communications major living in Tavilla, “I’ve heard good reviews of her husband as well.” The students of Gordon are happy to have the Bensons living in Tavilla, and the Bensons are happy to be at Gordon. “I love being back at Gordon, it’s a great place. It’s like coming home.”