Get to Know is a series highlighting community through the unique perspectives, interests and involvements of our faculty and staff members at CU 麻豆影院. In this issue, learn more about Crystal Lay's corner of campus.
听Get to know Crystal Lay, director of residence life in the Division of Student Affairs
听Read other Get to Know Q&As
Without saying your title, describe who you serve on campus and what you do.
I am very fortunate to work with an amazing team of individuals who work very hard to make the CU 麻豆影院 campus a home for over 10,000 occupants.听This includes students, faculty, staff and families.听The team includes many student leaders, professional staff听and student-employees who are excited to provide a great experience through programs, connections to resources听and crisis management.
Beyond your unit, what is a campus group or effort you are involved in or want to highlight?
I have the opportunity to serve on this year's Campus Common Read Committee, which consists of several campus partners.听This builds upon the previous Buffs One Read听program sponsored by the University Libraries and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement (ODECE), with the new goal of specifically engaging our incoming first-year students and听returning undergraduates. The program establishes听a unifying theme for the听year that can serve as a basis for classroom discussion, programming, social and civic development, and connection to campus. This year's text is American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures by America Ferrara.
What are you most proud of professionally or personally?
I entered the field of student affairs to help students experience college in a way that allows听them to be successful and also navigate any barriers.听Most often those barriers have been related to an identity that they hold.听This passion area has afforded me the opportunity to meet so many 鈥渇olx鈥澨齮hroughout my career.听I have been able to travel, attend conferences as a presenter, connect to various resources听and also begin doctoral work all focused on the importance of diversity.
What are your favorite spots or moments on campus?
My favorite spot on campus is the grassy areas in Williams Village, affectionately known as Will Vill.听You can find students reading books while laying out in the grass, laying in hammocks, playing soccer听or just waiting together to get on the Buff Bus.听It is especially gorgeous in the winter because there is snow covering everywhere and then you look up and there's this great view of the mountains.听Breathtaking!
What is your current office like?
My office is located in the Center for Community.听It is a great location because it is there that one can find many of our campuses resources.听There's a dining hall, showers, a grab-and-go, and you can also get your Buff OneCard.听In my physical office, I have pictures on the wall of my family, fun little sayings听and a small collection of coffee mugs.听I try to keep my door open whenever I am not in meetings. 鈥淔olx鈥澨齱ill stop by to sit down on the couch where we either problem-solve or tell pretty terrible dad jokes.
What is the best-kept secret on campus?
There are so many beautiful spaces on the 麻豆影院 campus.听During breaks or downtimes, I walk around campus and I will just sit and reflect.听You cannot beat the Flatirons, the campus ponds, beautiful architecture or the little random corners where you can sit down and relax.听So, maybe not a secret but definitely something I treasure about CU 麻豆影院.
Editor鈥檚 note: Lay uses the term 鈥渇olxs鈥澨齛s an alternative spelling of 鈥渇olks鈥� to signal inclusivity for all communities.
