Posted 9:55 a.m. Tuesday, June 9, 2026
UWL's Joseph Louis shares how resident assistants help students thrive
Joseph Louis knows how it feels to arrive on a college campus far from home.
A senior biology major from Malaysia, a country more than 9,000 miles away, he experienced that transition firsthand. As a resident assistant for two years in Reuter Hall, he has also helped other students navigate their new life on campus while managing feelings of homesickness.
“I think just being someone who listens and students can feel comfortable reaching out to is the first step,” he says. “Resident assistants have the knowledge and connections to direct them to people who can help them further.”
Those connections can be simple or significant — from finding a favorite place to eat near campus to joining a student organization or accessing support through the Counseling & Testing Center.
Louis credits his own support system at UWL with shaping his approach. His first roommates remain close friends, and his first resident assistants in his hall helped him feel grounded and included. Their example inspired him to take on the role himself.
“My philosophy is to be that same support system for others,” he says.
Louis believes Residence Life plays an important role in the college experience. Beyond providing a place to live, it creates a community where students build relationships, develop independence and gain life skills.
“College is more than going to class and leaving,” he says. “It’s about becoming immersed in the campus experience — and that starts with the culture created in the residence halls. Our job as RAs really matters. And it is a job that is incredibly rewarding in every single way.”