The Office of Residence Life is staffed by the Director of Residence Life, an Assistant Director, a Resident Director, a Graduate Resident Director, 22 Resident Assistants, and Work Study Students.
The Director of Residence Life
The Director of Residence Life oversees the department, including the Residence Centers. In collaboration with other campus departments, the director supervises the day-to-day management of the department as well as larger projects to grow the department and the services we offer. The Director of Residence Life resides on campus.
Derrick Hicks, Director of Residence Life
Phone: (845) 848-7600
Email: Derrick.Hicks@duny.edu
Location: Hertel Hall
Derrick Hicks is a Higher Education professional with many years of experience working at private and public institutions to support student learning and success. He started his Higher Education journey as a Resident Assistant and then served in several professional leadership positions, including his most recent roles as Adjunct Professor and Director of Residential Education and Housing at Bloomfield College. He is a proud and native New Yorker that is excited to become a Charger and join the Dominican University community.
Derrick received his B.A. degree from SUNY Purchase College and his M.S. degree from The University of Indianapolis. He is a servant and visionary leader that has experience working with nonprofit and for-profit organizations that span the sectors of Education, Entertainment, Health Care, Wellness, Social Justice, and Service to name a few. He is a lifelong learner that embraces challenges, celebrates individuality and values collaboration.
Derrick is thankful to have had a previous supervisor that has inspired his professional motto which states “We work with students, not for students.” This motto has shaped Derrick’s approach to leadership and has informed the ingenious results that he’s been able to yield over the years. He has always been an advocate for student needs, positive change and doing the right thing. He has proven his ability to develop and implement creative solutions for complex issues when budget, space and other resources are limited.
Some things that bring Derrick joy are a good laugh, spending time with family, traveling the world, opportunities to create, playing both video and board games, and practicing self-care. He appreciates the little things and enjoys learning something new, exploring the outdoors, finding great music to keep on replay, and participating in volunteer experiences.
Residence Hall Director
Grace O’Sullivan
Phone: (848) 848-7602
Email: Grace.Osullivan@duny.edu
Location: Hertel Hall
Grace joined the Residence Life team in September 2024. Grace was a Resident Assistant for her sophomore year and a Senior Resident Assistant for her junior and senior years at Mount Saint Mary College. Graduating with a B.A. in Psychology, Grace had a passion for continuing in Residence Life as a Resident Director. Grace is excited to expand her experience in Residence Life at DUNY! As a Residence Director, she is happy to make students feel like their housing on campus is their home away from home. Grace enjoys baking, diamond painting, puzzles, and spending time with friends and family. Grace also loves the winter and seeing snow fall. Grace loves tea and enjoys being outside, especially if it is by water
Assistant Directors of Residence Life
The Assistants Directors (ADs) are responsible for Student Conduct, Housing and Operations, and Programming and Leadership Development. In addition, they are each responsible for overseeing a specific Residence Hall and the staff of Resident Assistants and Work Studies employed in that building. The ADs participate on a rotating 24-hour-a-day schedule to address any emergency situations that may take place after their office hours. Because of the nature of their work, ADs live and work in the Residence Halls.
Resident Assistants
Resident Assistants (RAs) are the most visible and active members of the Residence Life team. Each hallway or module in our Residence Halls is assigned a dedicated RA.
RAs are student leaders who are extensively trained to support campus safety, foster community, and promote student well-being. Working closely with their supervisors, RAs help create a positive living environment that supports both academic success and personal growth. They do this by:
- Hosting community-building programs and events
- Being actively present and approachable within the residence halls
- Providing support for students’ personal, social, and emotional needs
All of this is achieved while balancing their own academic responsibilities, making RAs a vital and relatable resource for fellow students. RAs are on duty every night during the academic semester to ensure a safe and supportive residential experience.
Resident Assistant Availability
- Monday–Thursday: On-duty coverage runs from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. the following morning
- Friday–Monday: There is 24-hour RA coverage from Friday at 5:00 p.m. through Monday at 9:00 a.m.
RAs also hold office hours nightly from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., providing a consistent time for students to drop by with questions, concerns, or just to chat.
To reach the RA on duty:
- Call the RA duty phone for your specific residence hall
- Or visit the security desk, and they will contact the RA for you
Work Study Students
Every Residence Hall employs Work Study Students through the Financial Aid office. These positions are overseen and filled at the beginning of every semester by the Residence Hall professional staff. Responsibilities of these student workers include a variety of clerical tasks, delivering items to other departments, and overseeing student lounges.