DePauw Stories

Big changes are coming to housing facilities at DePauw, including significant renovations to some of the most historic residence halls on campus. But in the midst of these important structural updates, one thing remains unchanged: DePauw’s commitment to ensuring that its residential living spaces serve as a haven for student well-being.

At the heart of this work is the university’s dedicated team of resident assistants – student leaders who invest their time and energy into building an atmosphere of support. Their stories illustrate the life-changing potential of on-campus living.

Overcoming Challenges

Coming from Brooklyn, N.Y., Kimario Davis ’26 struggled at first to adjust to living on a small campus in the rural Midwest where everything felt like the complete opposite of what he was familiar with. But in the midst of this transition, there was one person in particular who helped him branch out and begin to make connections.

“I came to DePauw very introverted, and I didn't really go out and interact with people,” Davis recalls. “But my RA was an outgoing, extroverted and energetic person, and he would come knock on my door and say, ‘Let's have lunch together. Let's go to the gym.’ He was there for me, and that helped me step out of my comfort zone.”

Maheen Mirza ’26 faced a different type of challenge when she arrived at DePauw. “I got COVID within my first month at school,” she explains. “It was long COVID, so I was very weak and I couldn't even go to the dining hall. It was a whole thing.”

Just like Davis, however, Mirza quickly discovered the benefits of having someone there to look out for her and lend support when she needed it most. “A couple of the RAs would take turns bringing me food. They would leave me treats, or if I couldn’t come to the floor program, they would come and drop off little goodie bags. They were very sweet, and they always texted me to check in on me.”

Paying It Forward

These transformative experiences within their residence halls left a lasting impression on both Mirza and Davis, ultimately prompting them to reinvest the support they received and become RAs themselves the very next year – and then again each year thereafter.

“What my RA did for me made me want to do that for someone else who was in my shoes,” says Davis. “That’s why I wanted to become an RA. I wanted to be that role model for incoming students.”

Between the two of them, Mirza and Davis have served in multiple residences: Jordan, Humbert, Bishop Roberts, Rector Village and University-Owned Apartments and Houses. But no matter where they have been, they have remained committed to the same level of personal attention and individual care that was so instrumental in their own lives as first-year students.

“I've taught my residents how to do laundry, and I’ve also helped them deal with personal issues,” says Mirza. “It can get really deep and personal, and then sometimes it's just not knowing how to get into a class or looking into a major or figuring out how to get a certain textbook. There's such a wide range of things.”

Whether the issue is big or small, Mirza has been eager to use her position as an RA step in and help. For her, it’s all part of building a connection that goes beyond the roles of resident and resident assistant.

“Not only have I known my residents; I’ve known my residents’ friends,” she says, “They aren't just my residents. I’ve been a STEM guide to them. We’ve taken classes together. We’ve gone to clubs and organizations together. It’s been a very well-rounded relationship.”

Davis sees this dynamic as an integral part of DePauw’s emphasis on creating meaningful connections in all areas of campus life.

“I feel like the reason a lot of people come here is because they want that tight knit community,” he says. “You’re building genuine connections and relationships with people. That’s something I really appreciate about DePauw.”