In Aug. 2 issue, Russell County News
By Derek Aaron
Russell County News Editor



Russell Springs native Heather Davis has moved up the ranks in residence life with Lindsey Wilson College and was recently named the college’s women’s area coordinator for residence life, thus making her the pick for this week’s “Russell County Hero.”

Davis said she wants to make sure that Lindsey Wilson College’s more than 350 coeducational residential students learn outside of the classroom as well as in.

That’s why she and her staff have created numerous educational opportunities this upcoming school year for students who live in the college’s residence halls.

“We implement educational opportunities on a regular basis as we seek to add value to education outside the classroom,” she said. “We don’t want to separate the experience of campus life from academia, we want to be an extension of the classroom.”

She said she was involved in programs that involve alcohol education, healthy relationships, health and wellness, community service and engagement, among others.
“Our goal is to develop the whole person as we foster a living-learning environment.”

“LWC is a place anyone can call home,” she said. “From the time I stepped foot on this campus my freshmen year until now, I felt like part of a family.”

She said she didn’t feel like just any part of a whole, but an important part.

“The campus is gorgeous and easily accessed, my department is always willing to help, and the college goes the extra mile to ensure the success of every student that desires to be more than they are,” she said.

“I love my job because this is the avenue I have found through which I can help people,
 Davis said. “As long as I’m helping people, I really don’t care what I’m doing.

She said being a resident director in a residence hall creates an opportunity for her to help many students in a short amount of time by living and working in the same environment.

“We focus on residence life being an extension of the classroom rather something that’s separate from it,” Davis said.

Davis, a 2005 LWC graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in Christian ministries, has a lot of experience in residence life. Before being named women’s area coordinator for residence life, she served for three years as resident director of Phillips Hall, a residence hall on campus, and before that she was a resident assistant for a year and a half.

She is currently working on a Masters Degree in Theology while she works for the college and is slated to graduate in May next year.

Davis, who usually comes back to this county at least once a week to see family, is a 2001 Russell County High School graduate and is the daughter of Stephen and the late Shirley Davis.

“I have some great memories of home,” she said. “My parents fostered an environment of success for me.”

Great grades, constant job opportunity, co-curricular activities and athletic excellence was praised and expected by her parents, Davis said.

“They brought the best out of me, and I couldn’t have asked for better parents,” she said.
Davis said some of her fondest memories of home include nights out with friends, cruising around Northridge Shopping Center, going to movies and hanging out at Robertson Shell.

“The normal things for an adolescent from a small town like Russell Springs,” she said.
Back at LWC, her co-workers also think a lot of Heather as a dear friend.

“Heather has served our students quite well in residence life,” said LWC Assistant Dean of Students Curt Lee.

“She is committed to the Lindsey Wilson mission and creating a vibrant living-learning environment for our students.”

As women’s area coordinator for residence life, Davis oversees a professional staff of seven employees and 21 student resident assistants.

Overall, Lindsey Wilson’s residence life program covers 700 students who live in 10 residence halls and apartment communities.

Davis said she was attracted to residence life because she likes to solve problems.
“I once heard it said that in order for you to get an idea of what you should do for the rest of your life, you need to think of the one thing you would do without pay,” she said. “I feel that my life is based on the premise that helping people succeed makes me successful.”

She said although she sometimes sets herself up for failure when she puts too much stock in others that don’t want to change, but she said that doesn’t keep her from hoping.

“I continue to work just as hard at sharing my life experiences and watching students come out on top in this time of transition.”

After she finishes her degree she said she would like to teach in the college’s Christian Ministry program.

“I want to help prepare our ministry students for graduate school and real-world life changing,” she said.

“While no amount of training or education can prepare a young person for every experience they may face, I will strive to share my struggles and successes in hopes that I may offer useful advice to them for the future.”

Some story information by Duane Bonifer, Lindsey Wilson College