By Ansley Jenkins Halleck
November 10, 2026

When I signed up to do a blog post on November 5, 2026, I had no idea what to write about. Slowly as the date has approached, the only topic on my mind is my exit from campus housing. 

Why? Well likely because it is on my mind constantly no matter what I try to think about… and for now, it is my reality. 

A few weeks ago, my husband got a call that he was being promoted in his company, and we would need to move to Corpus Christi in January. The call was shocking and bittersweet. We will be leaving a town we had finally decided to be our forever home, for a new city that is full of unknowns. After almost five years, I will be leaving my role in housing at SHSU and looking for a new opportunity. With options limited for student affairs, and even less (none) for housing, it looks like I will be saying goodbye to housing altogether for now. Which also means I will be saying “goodbye” to SWACUHO at the end of the year.

I am unsure what is next, but I do know what I will carry with me when I go, and I wanted to share some of that here. 

The people. 

SWACUHO is a special place filled with amazing, talented, passionate people! Each one of you has positively impacted me during my career in housing. I want to extend a huge thank you to every one of you! I truly wish I could name you all, but there are just too many and if I miss someone, I will feel terrible. I hope to reach out to each of you individually over the next few months. Just know if we have interacted in any way during my journey in SWACUHO, you have a special place in my heart. I DO NOT like goodbyes, so this is only “see you later”. I am unsure if life will bring me back to SWACUHO one day, but either way, you each have a friend in me, and I look forward to staying connected. Thank you for your friendship, advice, laughs, and comradery. Thank you for your service to our organization and the institution where you work. Often our jobs are thankless, but I hope you know you matter, I am thankful for you, and I am proud of you. 

The lessons. 

I do not have enough time to write them all, but I thought I would share a few. Some that I knew before and have remained essential and some that I wish I would have known seven years ago when I joined the field. In no particular order..

• People matter most. Not just the ones who are easy to work with, but all people. Each person is worth treating with dignity and respect. We can learn from everyone we encounter. The way we choose to show up with people will impact them for the good or the bad. Choose the good – even when it is hard. You will always be better off when you do. And when you meet those people who are easy to work with, and maybe even turn into friends, mentors, or mentees, like so many of those folks in SWACUHO - cherish them. Invest in them. Show up! People matter most. 

• Be a student of the game. None of us know it all, so don’t act like it. Ask good questions. Get curious about areas you do not know about. Learn all you can. Never stop growing. Say yes to opportunities any time you have the ability to do so. Work hard. You and those you serve will be better because of it.

• Take care of yourself. At times we pour and pour then look around and there is nothing left for us to give. Take a pause and pour back in before burnout creeps in.

• Learn yourself and others. We are in the business of people. You have to learn yourself and others to be successful. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses as well as your teams can make a world of difference.

• Document. Document. Document. Every coaching conversation needs to be documented with an email. You may not think you’ll ever need it. You probably will.

• Don’t take it too seriously and laugh a lot. It was the only way I survived. 

• Get involved. On your campus and off. A SWACUHO committee is a great place to start. 

Thank you SWACUHO for the memories, friends, and opportunities. I can’t wait to see what is next for this organization. I look forward to the next two months in my role and always being a friend of SWACUHO.

Ansley Jenkins Halleck
Assistant Director for Staff Development at Sam Houston State University