Vanessa Perkinson

Campus Life Responsibilities

• Support campus-wide retention and well-being priorities, particularly for historically marginalized students, including Students of Color, First Generation students, LGBTQIA+ students, and others 
• Direct overall residence operations in some residential communities 
• Teach a PLUS 100: Transition to PLU course in support of new student transition, holistic wellbeing, thriving, and retention
• Participate in the all-residence hall on-call duty rotation 
• Serve as an educator and review officer within the Student Rights & Responsibilities (conduct) system
• Collaborate with colleagues within Campus Life to design, implement, and assess university-wide initiatives, such as LUTE Welcome, clubs & organizations, leadership development and recognition, and other programs
• Direct the co-curricular development of learning communities (LCs)
• Hire, train, and supervise Resident Assistants
• Educate students in the identification and articulation of personal and community values through the PLU and Campus Life mission statements, including lenses of Care and Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability
• Serve on various University-wide committees as a Campus Life departmental representation

Vanessa started at PLU in 2024. They moved to Washington from central/southern Illinois in 2021 to complete their graduate program. While completing their graduate studies, Vanessa served as Associate Director of the Center for Biblical and Theological Education in which they primarily helped facilitate a required small group program for incoming freshmen as well as teaching a leadership class and training undergraduate and graduate small group leaders. Vanessa enjoys being outdoors exploring the beauty of the PNW, hiking, reading, and spending time with their partner, Chelsey and cat, Twitch.