Loyola University Chicago

University Staff Council

October 2015

Ray Tennison

Title/s:  Associate Director

Email: rtennison@luc.edu

About

Department/School/Division: Residence Life
Campus: Lake Shore Campus
Years at Loyola: 5

What is your favorite thing about working at Loyola? 
Although it sounds trite, the students and colleagues I work with on a daily basis are my favorite things about working at Loyola.  It is still exciting—after five and a half years—to come to work each day knowing that I am alongside such a talented, compassionate, pleasant group of people.  Whether we are working toward rolling out a complex departmental process, triaging an urgent student crisis, or simply talking about mindless pop culture or our pets over lunch, I work with a great team!

What is your most memorable achievement as a Loyola employee?
I am incredibly humbled and grateful for being recognized with this Commitment to Excellence Award. But, looking back at each August that I have worked at Loyola, I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that I played a part in welcoming our 4,400 residential students to campus and moving their belongings into their residence halls. Just as the inevitable tan-lines and sore feet from working our week-long outdoor move-in process is a reminder of this achievement, so is being present as a family leaves their student in Loyola’s care on move-in day. It is a long, tiring process—but also one of the most exciting times when my whole team is excited, works at our best, and makes an impeccable first impression! 

What does Loyola's mission mean to you?
At its core, Loyola’s mission calls for us to challenge ourselves to continually learn, use that knowledge and experience to take meaningful action, and ultimately work toward creating positive change for a more just, inclusive, and humane world.  It is fulfilling to be part of a community that calls for everyone to use their talents to give back and give forward to something bigger than ourselves.

What motivates you to succeed each and every day? 
I am motivated to succeed each day by my deeply-instilled sense of responsibility to do good work and contribute in meaningful ways. My outlook is to leave things better than how I found them— however minor or significant that might be. In such a fast-paced, ever-changing, growing department, there is no shortage of tasks to apply this mantra. Those same colleagues I gloated about in an earlier question contribute to this motivation too!

Tell us how you show your Rambler pride. 
I have lots of Rambler pride! Whether I’m at games cheering for our student-athletes or being active at other events around the university (like President’s Ball, Damen Ball, Family Weekend, and Ignatian Service Day), I wear my Loyola gear with pride and always talk-up how great of a university Loyola is! I have had the opportunity to assist with planning and attending Arch Madness in St. Louis with a few busloads of students—it has been one of my favorite showings of Rambler pride!

Tell us something most people at Loyola would be surprised to know about you. 
For those who know me or pay attention to my many posts on social media, it may not be a total surprise, but, I am madly in love and obsessed with my dog I adopted from PAWS Chicago a few years ago. She is a 6 year-old scruffy terrier mix who looks like Toto from The Wizard of Oz.