Loyola University Chicago

Office of the Dean of Students

Division of Student Development

Staff & Alum: Rabia Khan Harvey

Title: Assistant Dean of Students & Title IX Deputy Coordinator
Alum: Masters in Human Resources
Alum: Masters in Education
Previous Residence Life Staff
Started LUC: 1999

I’m originally from Glendale Heights, Illinois but I was born in Lahore, Pakistan.  My family moved to the United States when I was only five years old in the hopes that my older brother and sister and I would receive a quality education in the U.S.  I’m the youngest of three children and the only child that fulfilled our parent’s dream of obtaining a college degree. 

 I found my passion for Student Affairs during my senior year in college when my mentors in Residence Life told me I had a special niche for this field.  I was a Resident Advisor, member of Gamma Chi sorority and Founding Member/Captain of the Women’s Soccer Team at Elmhurst College.  As a Psychology major, I was guided towards a Master’s degree which I obtained at Loyola University Chicago in 2001. 

I also come from a very long and memorable professional background in Residence Life.  Prior to starting my role as the Assistant Dean of Students at Loyola, I served as the Assistant Director for First-Year Halls in the Department of Residence Life.  I loved supervising professional staff; developing Assistant Resident Directors; advising Residence Hall Association (RHA); facilitating annual training and recruitment processes and; welcoming 4000+ students into the residence halls during Move-In Week!  Everyone who knows me knows that Residence Life is my heart and gave me an excellent foundation for the work I get to do now as an Assistant Dean/Deputy Coordinator!

I bring 13 professional years to the field and my passion still runs strong.  I really do not ever see myself leaving Higher Education, particularly in the area of Title IX which is a passion that I recently developed!

I try to lend students a helping hand by sitting with them individually and having a conversation to understand where they might have a need.  I am pretty confident in my ability to refer students to resources on campus including different staff or faculty that may assist the student better than I can. 

I am a big proponent of empowering students to resolve their own problems because it creates a sense of responsibility in them.  It also gives them the confidence to solve other problems as they come up.  But, I’m always there to help by giving them the direction, courage, and extra push that they might need.

Currently, the best way I lend students a hand is by guiding Complainants, who are alleging sex/gender discrimination on our campus, through our Title IX process.  My first priority is to ensure that the unwanted harassment stops immediately and that it does not reoccur.  I also have to ensure the overall safety of our campus community.  Finally, my role is to provide grand oversight over gender-based misconduct investigations, including the hearing board process, in collaboration with the Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution.

The Office of the Dean of Students is an area that provides immediate response and authentic care to students in crisis.  From a behavior concern, to a personal emergency, to unforeseen circumstances that can directly impact a student’s ability to fully participate in Loyola’s services, programs, or academic programs, our office is there to help. 

Recently, the White House Administration released the “Not Alone Report to Protect Students from Sexual Assault.”  This 23-page report is an excellent indication that more attention will be directed at helping college campuses handle cases more accurately and ensuring that we are creating a culture on our campus that promotes reporting incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, etc.  Recent legislation that supports this positive direction is something that I consistently strive to incorporate with all constituents around our campus when the topic of Title IX comes up in conversation.

The Office of the Dean of Students strives to offer each student with resources, including reporting options, so that they have all the necessary information to get back on their feet, so to speak.   I am inspired to work with colleagues in our area who provide genuine care and follow up to students who really need the additional support – we are responsive, helpful, and care a lot about the overall success of each Loyola student.

There is so much I love about this campus and our community.  I am a double-alum – obtaining both Master’s from Loyola and I bleed maroon and gold!  The transformation that our campus has seen these past five years has been incredible – I really love the fact that we are situated right on the edge of Lake Michigan!  It gives our busy, city scenery as sense of calm. 

I love and admire so many of my wonderful colleagues who are caring professional, intelligent, and really good in their respective roles.  And, of course our students make me smile.  I serve as a mentor for the Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs and truly enjoy being a resource for undergraduate and graduate women-of-color.  Students are so inspired by Loyola’s mission and enroll at our institution because the mission and Jesuit ideals give them something meaningful to aspire to. 

I’ve served on multiple university committees and initiatives such as Staff Council, Family Weekend, Loyola Responds to Pakistan, and Arch Madness Committee.  I get to be a part of a variety of programs and get to work with amazing faculty and staff who are really behind improving the quality of student life here at Loyola.  I smile knowing that all of our efforts have contributed and continue to make a “brand” about Loyola that Ramblers really get excited about! 

Each year, for the past five years, I serve as the Muslim Sister’s Retreat Advisor where we allow 25-50 undergraduate female students, who identify as Muslims at Loyola, for a 3-day, 2-night overnight retreat at LUREC (Loyola University Retreat & Ecology Campus) in Woodstock, Illinois.  When I was approached by three students five years ago to go as their advisor, I was so flattered by the invitation because I knew there was a real need and desire for young, Muslim women to reflect and find community off-campus.  I get to build the educational and social curriculum with the lead student and participate in the bonding experience that is unique to our identities as Muslim woman. 

I never had role models growing up who looked like me so I know how important my presence is them.   This is why being invited back every year and serving as their Advisor is one of the most meaningful ways I give back to my fellow Ramblers.  Many of these women see me on campus as a “big sister,” someone they can confide in, seek out for personal advice, or just share in their joys and successes.  I hold a very special place in my heart for these women who I like to believe I have impacted in some small way.  And, they have taught me so much about the value of having a faith and having a strong relationship with those who identify with a similar background as you.

 

Social Justice is about bringing awareness to issues that are unjust in our society and our world.  We can no longer think about issues that are pressing just to the United States.  We have to think about and be abreast of global issues that are affecting lives all around the world.  From world hunger, to global warming, to violence against women and children, to religious militant groups, to homelessness, social justice is not only about learning about these “moral wrongs” but also about correcting them. 

Each small act or service that we provide to help a cause is a move towards creating a more socially just world.   I am most proud of our students who aspire to literally “be the change they wish to see in the world” that Ghandi coined many years ago.  It is not just a cliché here at Loyola.  These students (with excellent faculty and staff who model the way) really strive to find a vocation (or calling in life) that brings together their unique gifts and talents to heal our world from its injustices. 

Having attended an undergraduate program that was not as strongly tied to their mission or their religious affiliation, Jesuit Education and its ideals really expanded my views on multiple issues and ignited a real sense of purpose for how I should be living my life:  a life that cares about its community; a life that strives for excellence; a life that finds God in all things.  These ideals are things that are at the core of how I want others to view me.  If I can brighten someone’s day because they feel undervalued or left out, I will connect them.  If I can improve a simple program by giving it energy, I will bring that fire.  If I can forgive someone who may have hurt me, I will forgive them.  These are small examples of how much Jesuit education is at the forefront of how I choose to lead my life.

Jesuit education is an education that imposes self-reflection.  We live in a society where we are constantly on the go and rarely stop to think about the day or how we interacted with other people – to basically assess what went well and what did not.  The Examen which is a self-reflection tool introduced by the Jesuit community is something that has been an incredible value to my professional and personal life.  I find that I have less regrets and a clearer conscious knowing that I made decisions throughout the day, week, and months that do not have a negative consequence.  I only wish I was introduced to this practice years ago! 

Unfortunately, I don’t spend enough time at my favorite spot but when it is warm outside, I love going behind the Information Commons to look out at Lake Michigan.  This beautiful lake has so many moods – she can be bumpy, gloomy, boisterous, serene, or loud.  The lake reminds me of all the different moods that are within me and I can appreciate how she is unapologetic to show whatever “mood” she is in.  I love connecting with nature – even in my high heels – because I believe it’s God’s way to show us how much we need our earth’s resources and therefore, he made them accessible to us.

There are so many stories to share!  I guess my most favorite is when I was asked to serve on the Loyola Responds to Pakistan Committee back in 2009.  As a Pakistani-American, the crisis that impacted so many lives and monsoon rains that devastated the northern region of Pakistan was an issue very near and dear to my heart.  As one of the efforts to raise awareness and funds to help the displaced families, we coordinated a fund-raiser dinner for our campus community.  While we were only expecting maybe 100+ guests, the word had gotten out so fast around the Chicago land area, that we were so pleasantly surprised to host a room full of nearly 400 people! 

That night was incredibly memorable with an amazing keynote speaker who shared the horrific tragedy that my mother-country was facing and the dire need that its people were in.  That night, we raised $4,000 as a community to send to all of the relief efforts assisting with Pakistan’s immediate crisis.  From colleagues who made sure there were enough paper goods, to my mother who coordinated the dinner, to the students who led the program, this story, by far is my most favorite.  That night I saw hope, possibility, and response to a global crisis in a country that is at the core of my personal identity.  This was Loyola at its finest.  I couldn’t be more proud to be a Rambler that night.



Get ready to be pushed here.  Loyola is a dynamic place to be – with staff and faculty who push the intellectual mind, who push your heart to be an example to others, who instill lifelong values in you.  There is a strong commitment to “prepare people to lead extraordinary lives” but you will be pushed out of your comfort and your viewpoints and beliefs will be challenged here.  There will also be an expectation that you take this Loyola brand to make the world a better place, one small act at a time.  But you’ll forever be a part of a community that celebrates your achievements and joins you in time of need.  I am a very proud Rambler and you will feel that the minute you meet me.  I know you should be here and I would love to be alongside you on your journey here.  In Rambler Love!