Student Housing Matters

At times, student affairs professionals are hesitant to pursue a role with COCM, thinking that the transition back to a university setting will be challenging. And yet, a number of former Capstone employees have made the successful move to public institutions. What have they done to make the transition as seamless as possible? And how do they go about getting connected on a new campus?

Amy Lorenz is the Associate Director of Housing and Residence Life at the University of North Florida. Prior to joining the team at UNF in March of 2018, she spent nearly four years as Director of Operations at Bowling Green State University through COCM. Amy’s resume also includes roles with Marshall University and Miami University in the realm of academic initiatives and first year experience.

On this episode of the podcast, Amy joins guest host Tara Wilkinson to explain her intentional decision to join COCM to learn about facilities and operations, sharing her responsibilities at BGSU and what she learned about remaining calm in a crisis. She discusses her work in the area of social wellness and describes how she came to appreciate the perspective of the maintenance and custodial staff during her time at COCM. Listen in for Amy’s insight around making connections on a new campus and easing the transition from Capstone back to a college setting!

Topics Covered

Why Amy joined COCM to learn about facilities and operations

Amy’s responsibilities as Director of Operations at BGSU

  • Day-to-day maintenance + emergencies
  • Marketing and occupancy management

Amy’s work with social wellness during her time at Capstone

Amy’s experience attending the Women’s Leadership Institute

The top skills Amy learned in her time working at COCM

  • Remain calm in crisis
  • Listen to ALL constituents
  • Appreciate perspective of maintenance, custodial staff

Taking initiative to meet + listen to people in a new setting

Why Amy recommends finding friends outside of work

Amy’s advice on the transition from COCM to a university

  • Stay connected to people, professional organizations
  • Continue to invest in professional development

Amy’s insight around being a mom in the student housing space

Connect with Amy

Amy on LinkedIn

Connect with Tara

Student Housing Matters

Student Housing Matters on Facebook

Student Housing Matters on Twitter

Capstone On-Campus Management

Tara on LinkedIn


We talk a lot about wellness and work-life balance, but most of us in the world of student housing are just not very good at it. So, how can we learn to prioritize our emotional and spiritual health? How can we develop the courage to ask what’s really important to us and align our choices accordingly? And if that means choosing a new path, how can we apply the skills we learn in student housing to other roles?

Jen Oliver is the former Director of Facilities and Conference Services with COCM at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and current Membership Recruitment Specialist for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. Prior to joining the Girl Scouts team in 2018, she spent two years at home with her young daughters, serving her family and getting involved in the local community.

On this edition of the Student Housing Matters Alumni Series, Jen sits down with Tara Wilkinson to discuss how her role with COCM at MassArt rounded out her experience in student housing, exposing her to the facilities side of the space. She shares her gratitude for the relationships she developed with partners, vendors, COCM colleagues as well as the MassArt team. Listen in to understand Jen’s decision to step away from her career at Capstone and prioritize her family and community—and learn how she is applying the skills she honed in student housing to other roles that fit her lifestyle and align with her values!

Topics Covered

How Jen’s role with COCM rounded out her student housing experience

Jen’s responsibilities as Director of Facilities and Conference Services

The trust Jen had to build with her team at MassArt in Boston

The relationships Jen valued with vendors, partners and colleagues

Jen’s decision to prioritize her wellness through family + community

Having the courage to search for work that truly aligns with your values

Jen’s advice around making the decision to step away from your career

How wellness is encouraged among the employees at Capstone

Articulating how skills in student housing apply to other kinds of work

Jen’s insight around the concerns people have with privatized housing

Connect with Jen

Jen on LinkedIn

Connect with Tara

Student Housing Matters

Student Housing Matters on Facebook

Student Housing Matters on Twitter

Capstone On-Campus Management

Tara on LinkedIn


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