In 2015, senior Cory Ott made the decision to join the Residence Life staff at Stevenson University and become a resident assistant, a student leader who lives in a campus residence hall and helps to make student housing experiences the best they can be.

During his first year, his own resident assistants inspired him to join the Residence Life student staff. “Through conversations I had with them and events they held, I was able to come out of my shell,” he explained.

One of the exciting factors of being a resident assistant is that it enables that person to become a leader and set examples for the underclassman, he added.

“My favorite part about being an RA is the interaction with other residents. Hearing their stories of where they came from, what they are going through, and their hopes for the future are my favorite to hear about. It breathes life into the community,” he said.

Currently, Ott is involved with Relay For Life as a senior advisor and is also a member of Mission: I’m Home. He participates in a wide variety of community service events through that organization. “A good example is the alternative spring break this past March was when we went to Louisiana to rebuild homes affected by flooding,” he said.

Additionally, Ott is a program manager for the non-profit organization Generation Vote. He teaches students how to create a youth platform based on issues that are most important in their communities.

With graduation around the corner, his Stevenson University years are coming to an end, but he’s looking forward to the next step: graduate school.

Ott will attend the Institute of World Politics in Washington D.C. for a Master’s degree in national security affairs and statecraft. He enjoyed the time he spent in Washington D.C. last semester, and explained that he cannot wait to return with a goal to work in diplomacy.

Stevenson is grateful for Cory Ott’s work in the community and bids him farewell and best of luck in his future endeavors.