Residence Hall Staff
Hall Directors & Resident Advisors
Residence Hall Directors
RHDs have responsibility for a cluster of buildings on campus. Each RHD is a full time staff member with previous experience in Student Affairs. All RHDs live on campus and report to an Assistant Director. Residents are encouraged to make the effort to get to know their RHD, and to utilize his/her ability to be an advisor, a counselor or just a friend.
Aside from counseling residents, RHDs have responsibility for supervising a staff team of Resident Advisors and for all of the paperwork related to running a residence hall. This includes keeping track of room assignments and changes, check-in and check-out information, renewals and maintenance. RHDs are also responsible for enforcing policies and laws, just as RAs. They are trained to serve as information sources and can usually help students find answers to questions about academics, the administration, etc.
Residence Hall Director
(Bearkat Village Apartments)
Miriam Ayala was born and raised in Brownsville, TX. Miriam first started her residence life career as an RA at from Concordia University Texas in Austin where she graduated Fall 2020 with her Bachelor's in Psychology with a focus on clinical counseling. Miriam is currently working on her Master's in Social Work- with a focus on Direct practice with Latino individuals, Families and Groups online with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her career goal is to someday be able to help provide all communities with accessible mental health resources. She enjoys spending her time exploring and traveling with her husband, son, and two dogs. Miriam oversees Bearkat Village Apartments and supervises the Resident Advisor teams. Click here for more information about Bearkat Village Apartments.
Residence Hall Director
(Estill Hall & Lone Star Hall)
Alicia Barnes is from Kingsville, TX. She graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Science in Victim Studies and a Minor in English in the Summer of 2022. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work through Capella University. As an undergrad, she worked as a Resident Advisor at Raven Village and Bearkat Village. Alicia’s goal as an RHD is to create a safe, healthy, and clean environment where residents can create their home away from home. She also hopes parents will feel rest assured knowing that they are leaving their students in good hands. In her spare time, Alicia enjoys reading and pursuing knowledge on a variety of topics including Conflict Resolution, Restorative Justice, and Victimology. Alicia lives by the following quote from J. R. R. Tolkien, “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” She is very excited to continue working with Residence Life as a Hall Director at both Estill and Lonestar Hall. Click here for more information about Estill Hall & Lone Star Hall.
Residence Hall Director
(Belvin-Buchanan Hall & Elliott Hall)
Maddie Klumbis from Jourdanton, TX. She graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Master’s degree in Dance in May of 2023. She received her Undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University in Kinesiology (with an emphasis in dance science) in May of 2020. Maddie was the graduate assistant for the College of Arts and Media Dance Department and the Belvin-Buchanan CAM Creative Community from August 2020-May 2023. She now oversees Belvin-Buchanan and Elliott Hall and supervises the Resident Advisor teams, Graduate Assistants, and Desk Assistants in her buildings. Her main goal as an RHD is to create an environment that is welcoming to all residents. She focuses on fostering creativity and providing networking opportunities for her residents. In her spare time, Maddie enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time outside with her ESA Lucy. Click here for more information about Belvin-Buchanan Hall & Elliott Hall.
Residence Hall Director
(White Hall & Raven Village)
Michael Osborne was born and raised in Houston, TX. They are a recent graduate of SHSU, completing their Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications with an English Minor in Spring 2023. Michael’s career goals are to work for a non-profit media organization that helps other independent and non-profits create alluring multi-media campaigns. Beginning their tenure in Residence Life in August 2020, Michael was a Resident Advisor for six semesters at Sam Houston Village and San Jacinto Hall before becoming the Residence Hall Director of Raven Village and White Hall. In their free time, Michael loves to play with their dog, Nala, and to make frequent trips to Bucc-ees. Michael oversees White Hall & Raven Village and supervises the Resident Advisor teams. Click here for more information about White Hall & Raven Village.
Residence Hall Director
(San Jacinto Hall)
Taylor "Tay" Rodgers is from Corsicana, Texas and has lived in many places including Quito, Ecuador and Asunción, Paraguay! She is a graduate student studying Homeland Security Studies here at Sam Houston State University. Tay previously graduated with a Major in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Spanish. She became an RA at Piney Woods Hall in Fall 2020 and was the Assistant Residence Hall Director at Jackson-Shaver Hall and the 4-West buildings before becoming the RHD at San Jacinto Hall. Tay is a very proud granddaughter, daughter, and sister of army soldiers. In her free time, Tay enjoys reading, traveling, and hiking. Click here for more information about San Jacinto Hall.
Residence Hall Director
(Piney Woods Hall)
Liam Szlachtowski, from McKinney, Texas graduated from Sam Houston State University with his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Magna Cum Laude with a minor in Homeland Security Studies in May of 2021. He now studies as a graduate student at Sam Houston State University in the Master of Science in Criminal Justice program. He is an avid outdoorsman and actively spends his time outside walking the Sam Houston National Forest or hiking with his German Shepherd Sokka. Click here for more information about Piney Woods Hall.
Residence Hall Director
(Copper Village Apartments)
Jacob Terry was born and raised in Ontario, California and spent a few years living in Argentina. Prior to returning to school, Jacob worked for several years in both logistics and health care in a variety of workplaces and positions. He began to work in university residence life and education departments during his undergrad years at the University of California, Merced. He has worked alongside university students for several years as a Resident Assistant and Lead Resident Assistant and is excited to continue to do so as a Residence Hall Director at Sam Houston State. Jacob graduated Class of 2023 with Dean’s List and Chancellor’s Honors from the University of California, Merced with a Bachelor’s in Public Health, and looks to start Graduate Studies in a related field at Sam Houston State. So far, Jacob is loving Texas and exploring Huntsville and the surrounding areas. In his free time, Jacob enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading, playing video games and discovering new music. Jacob oversees Copper Village Apartments. Click here for more information about Copper Village Apartments.
Residence Hall Director
(Sam Houston Village/Jackson-Shaver/4 West Buildings)
Warner Workman III began his residence life career as an RA at Waynesburg University where he studied Criminal Justice. Warner continued his career in higher education at Grove City College where he worked for two years as a Residence Hall Director and for three seasons as an Assistant Baseball Coach for hitting and infield defense. Most recently, Warner worked at a juvenile placement center in Western Pennsylvania as the supervisor of the Crisis Intervention Complex. Warner’s passion in higher education is working with the RA staff to provide a welcoming environment for residents. Warner and his wife, Rachel, are from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to Huntsville in 2018. Warner and Rachel now have a son and daughter, Joey and Rylee. Warner enjoys traveling with his family and joining his kids in their imaginative play. Click here for more information about Sam Houston Village, Jackson-Shaver, Baldwin House, Crawford House, Creager House & Mallon House.
Assistant Residence Hall Director
(Estill Hall & Lone Star Hall)
Maria Rojas Caballero is the Assistant Residence Hall Director for Estill Hall & Lone Star Hall. Click here for more information about Estill Hall & Lone Star Hall.
Assistant Residence Hall Director
(San Jacinto Hall)
Emma Mentzer is from Canyon Lake, TX. She is an undergraduate senior majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Forensic Science. After graduating from Sam Houston State University, she aims to pursue a career as a Crime Scene Technician. Emma began working in Residence Life in the Fall of 2022. She worked as an RA at San Jacinto Hall before becoming the ARHD. In her free time, Emma loves to travel and be outdoors. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, including her dog, Mila. Emma supervises the Resident Advisor team at San Jacinto Hall. Click here for more information about San Jacinto Hall.
Assistant Residence Hall Director
(Sam Houston Village/Jackson-Shaver/4 West Buildings)
Angelina Molina was born in Uvalde, Texas and is an undergraduate student studying Criminal Justice with a minor in Legal Studies and Victim Studies. Angelina's goals are to work with children in the legal system to gain more representation. She hopes to become a professor and teach victimology at Sam Houston in the future. Angelina started working in Residence Life in the Fall of 2022 as a Resident Advisor at Jackson-Shaver Hall. Her goal as an Assistant Hall Director is to help build community and help create a safe home for residents. In her free time, she enjoys watching new movies, reading, and taking my Chihuahua, Gizmo, to the dog park. Angelina oversees Sam Houston Village, Jackson-Shaver Hall, and the 4 West buildings: Baldwin House, Crawford House, Creager House, and Mallon House and supervises the Resident Advisor teams. Click here for more information about Sam Houston Village, Jackson-Shaver, Baldwin House, Crawford House, Creager House & Mallon House.
Assistant Residence Hall Director
(Copper Village Apartments)
Nigel Roy hails from Sugar Land, Texas. After working for four semesters as an RA at Sam Houston Village, Nigel accepted the ARHD position at Sam Houston's newest residence life building, Copper Village. He is a senior studying psychology with a minor in philosophy and is an active member of the Honors College. After graduating he plans to pursue a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. Nigel is passionate about providing guidance and helping others. In his free time Nigel enjoys hiking in the many parks and forests around Huntsville, exploring the world of music, and watching college football (Go Bearkats!). Click here for more information about Copper Village Apartments.
Assistant Residence Hall Director
(White Hall & Raven Village)
Victoria Satcher is from Southlake, TX. In the Fall 2021, Victoria graduated from Sam Houston State University Magna Cum Lauda with Honors, with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Minor in Human Services. After graduating and having a semester break, she has returned to SHSU to pursue her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an interest in Play Therapy. Her career goal is to one day work in a private counseling practice helping a wide range of individuals. As an undergrad she worked at residence life for two and half years as a Resident Advisor at Sam Houston Village. Victoria has now returned to SHSU and Residence Life, accepting the position of Assistant Residence Hall Director at Raven Village and White Hall. She is passionate about creating a positive and welcoming living environment for residents and staff. In her free time, she loves to spend time with family and friends, she has a passion for reading, crafting, and adventuring. Click here for more information about White Hall & Raven Village.
Assistant Residence Hall Director
(Piney Woods Hall)
Alexis “Ally” Swope was born and raised in Spring, Texas. She is a junior undergraduate student studying Animal Science with a minor in Wildlife Management at Sam Houston State University. She started with Residence Life in the Fall of 2021 where she was a Resident Advisor at Piney Woods Hall before becoming the Assistant Residence Hall Director for the hall. After graduating from Sam Houston State University, she plans to pursue a career in Wildlife Management, where she can help preserve and sustain ecosystems. Ally is involved in multiple organizations on campus including Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, The Wildlife Society, Block and Bridle, and a part of the Honors College. In her free time, Ally enjoys working at a local high fence ranch and making trips to Dutch Bros with her friends.Click here for more information about Piney Woods Hall.
Assistant Residence Hall Director
(Bearkat Village Apartments)
Kaylee Trotter is a senior from Conroe, TX, studying Marketing with the objective of launching a career in social media or digital marketing. She loves to spend her free time hanging out with friends and family, going on adventures, seeing plays, and having relaxing movie nights. Kaylee was in the Freshman Leadership Program her first year at Sam and has been an Honors Scholar her entire time at SHSU. She became the President of the Marketing Club not long after her team won 1st place in Hubspot’s National Student Marketing Competition of 2022, beating out teams from UT and Cornell. She worked as an RA at San Jacinto Hall for one year before becoming the Assistant Residence Hall Director at Bearkat Village. Click here for more information about Bearkat Village Apartments.