撸先生

Living on campus can be an adjustment, but Towson University鈥檚 Living Learning Communities are designed to make that transition easier by connecting students with shared interests from day one.

Developed by Housing and Residence Life, Living Learning Communities (LLCs), are intentional communities within residence halls that connect residents to faculty, staff and fellow students with similar academic or personal interests. Throughout the year, there are events, workshops and programs designed around the community鈥檚 theme.

鈥淔rom working with students in LLCs, I鈥檝e seen so many positive&苍产蝉辫;迟丑颈苍驳蝉,鈥� says Makenzie Duvall, the Living Learning Community coordinator for Housing and Residence Life. Students often form strong friendships with peers who share their interests, creating a sense of belonging and support.

鈥淭he best part is that it doesn鈥檛 cost anything extra, but the benefits are huge,鈥� Duvall adds. 鈥淪tudents get an amazing mix of academic support, personal growth and community, and I think that combination really helps them feel more connected and confident on campus.鈥�

Building a community

When Pretty Agana was signing up for housing last summer, she saw that 撸先生 had an LLC dedicated to social change.

The Social Change Community, a partnership between Housing and Residence Life and the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, is committed to developing leaders who have a positive impact on their communities and the world.

It builds a network of 撸先生 community members engaged in social change work through hands-on projects and interactive workshops and shares opportunities for social change work at 撸先生.

For Agana, a freshman biology major from New Carrollton, Maryland, volunteer work is a passion. She volunteered extensively in high school and plans to give back to her home country of Nigeria. On a pre-dental track, she plans to open a practice there once she enters the field.

She says having a community of like-minded people has made her first-year experience even better.

鈥淗aving people who care about social change and volunteering made moving to campus easier because we had more to connect over,鈥� Agana says. 鈥淲e all participate and talk about different issues in the world. It was so nice getting to hear different people鈥檚 opinions on different topics.鈥�

Find study partners

As a freshman business administration major, Joel Oyedeji signed up to live in the College of Business and Economics Living Learning Community鈥攕pecifically for students who are earning degrees in the college. It鈥檚 one of three colleges with their own LLC, the others being the College of Health Professions and the College of Education.

By living on a floor with students going through the same classes鈥攁nd sometimes the same challenges鈥攊t allows them to learn and grow together.

鈥淚t brings you a little peace knowing that you鈥檙e not the only one going through it and you have people who can help you,鈥� Oyedeji says. 鈥淚 know economics is not my strongest subject. My suite mate Nick was able to sit with me and work on some of the stuff I need help with.鈥�

A global experience

When Jaden Stokes visited 撸先生, she discovered the Global Village LLC, a community that connects international and domestic students from different cultures and countries.

Stokes spent the academic year with a student from London. The experience had such an impact that the sophomore graphic design major returned for her second year as a community mentor for the LLC.

鈥淚鈥檓 still friends with people I met on the floor鈥攖hey鈥檝e even asked me to come to their country and visit them,鈥� Stokes laughs. 鈥淚 love getting to plan events for our international students. We did our Around the World event, where we partnered with [the International Students and Scholars Office] and had international students, faculty and campus organizations share more about their culture.鈥�

鈥淟earning how to budget, interact with the community and mentor students was incredible for my professional development and also helped widen my view of the world.鈥�