Josh O’Connor, assistant vice president for student life at the University of the Pacific, has been named president-elect of the Western Association of College and University Housing Officers, a regional organization that supports professionals in collegiate housing and residential life across the western United States.

As president-elect, O’Connor will work alongside the association’s current president to help guide strategic priorities, organizational planning and conference development before assuming the presidency in a future term. The leadership role positions him to help shape professional development and best practices for collegiate housing programs serving campuses throughout the region.

O’Connor said the decision to pursue leadership within the organization stems from the significant impact the association has had on his professional growth. He credited the association with providing mentorship, training opportunities and a strong network that supports housing leaders across institutions.

Beyond professional development, O’Connor said the organization provides an invaluable support network for housing professionals during campus crises and operational challenges.

“These are the people I call in moments of crisis,” he said, citing situations such as campus housing shortages, occupancy imbalances or emergency response planning. “When we have an emergency on campus or when housing is over capacity or under capacity, those are the people we turn to.”

He said the association also serves as a critical forum for collaboration between public and private institutions, allowing members to share best practices and respond collectively to emerging issues in higher education housing.

O’Connor pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of that collaboration.

“During COVID, universities were losing tens of millions of dollars, buildings were being cleared, and refunds had to be issued,” he said. “We come together in times of good, but we also really come together to support each other in times of bad.”

According to O’Connor, student housing also plays a central role in shaping the overall college experience. He said residential life supports student engagement, community-building and access to campus opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.

“We don’t want students studying 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he said. “We want them enjoying their residential experience, bonding in the residence halls, joining clubs and organizations and attending athletic events.”

As he prepares for his new leadership role, O’Connor said the organization will focus on long-term strategic planning, including an analysis of its strengths, weaknesses and opportunities to help guide future direction. The organization will also evaluate the sustainability of its annual conference model, which serves as its largest annual gathering. 

At Pacific, O’Connor has been involved in a range of student life initiatives, including supporting TEDx programming, contributing to the reopening of Southwest Hall and Manor Hall, helping expand the university’s Common Reading program and assisting with the Pacific Summer High School Institute.