When Associate Director of Residence Life Laura Cantrell arrived at Fairfield five years ago, construction was just being wrapped up on the Barone Campus Center and the mailboxes were in a trailer.
Now, after having spent a year in a trailer herself, along with the rest of the Housing and Residence Life departments, Cantrell left Fairfield on March 31 to take a new position in Maryland, just 20 minutes away from Ocean City.
“In this profession, five years is a good time to stay,” Cantrell said of her current job at Fairfield.
“In her role as associate director, she was a master at organization and data collection, and yet she balanced this with a warm and gentle nature that made her an asset to the Office of Residence,” said Dean of Students Tom Pellegrino, who temporarily served as the director of Residence Life this past fall.
“I look forward to what I’ll be doing,” said Cantrell, who will be working for Allen and O’Hara, a division of educational realty trust. The group works with Salisbury University to provide housing for students. Leases are signed through the company, but the apartments are considered campus housing.
“As she goes on to her new position, I could not be more proud or pleased,” Pellegrino said. “If we are doing our job in developing staff and assisting people in meeting their vocational goals, then Laura is a shining example of success.”
When Cantrell arrived at Fairfield, she and her husband Paul, who is currently the assistant director of Recreation and director of Club Sports, lived in the apartments for one year before Fairfield offered them the opportunity to live in the single-family home located in the middle of the townhouses.
While living in the midst of the townhouses, the Cantrells had some interesting experiences. There were occasionally noise issues, but the couple was also able to invite students to dinner.
“It’s like anything else,” Mr. Cantrell said. “You learn to adjust to your environment.”
One of the more bizarre experiences they witnessed was when once, in the middle of the night, they saw a group of male students dressed in camouflage attempting to rappelle out a second story window.
Mr. Cantrell began his time at Fairfield as assistant coach of the women’s volleyball team. Incidentally, the year he served as assistant coach was the last time the team won the MAACs and went to the NCAA tournament.
When he first began his position as director of Club Sports, Fairfield offered just seven club sports. Now, there are 11 with the possibility of a twelfth being added by the end of the year.
Mr. Cantrell plans to join his wife in Maryland at the end of the academic year. From there, he will most likely seek employment in the area of sports and recreation.
“I’d love to try to get into golf course management,” he said, although he did add that he might enjoy continuing to work in an educational environment.
Both of the Cantrells feel that their respective departments will continue to grow and expand in a positive fashion.
“I really look forward to seeing Fairfield in five years,” Mrs. Cantrell said. “I anticipate a lot of positive changes [within Residence Life].”
As far as development in the club sports area is concerned, Mr. Cantrell feels that the biggest hurdle for future growth is that Fairfield is limited in space. As a result, many of the newest club sports to evolve, such as women’s ice hockey, and potentially sailing, are not limited by university field or gym space.
Both also said they will miss the people they work with at Fairfield. In particular, Mrs. Cantrell noted the quality of the students.
“These are wonderful people that I’ve gotten to know and work with,” she added.
Paul felt the same way and said that while students might not always appreciate it, the faculty and staff at the university work hard for the school.
“There’s some really outstanding people that are employed at this university,” Mr. Cantrell said.
Pellegrino said that the Cantrells’ presence on campus will be missed.
“Laura, Paul, and their son Chase, have become an integral part of the Fairfield family,” Pellegrino said.
“Beyond their dedication to the school, they have brought humor and friendship to our division and to our students. While their positions can be filled, their absence will be keenly felt.”
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