From Suitemates to Student Coordinators in Residence Life
Residence Life at Texas A&M is more than just housing, it’s where students grow as leaders, find community and discover new opportunities. For two Aggies, living in a suite-style residence hall not only introduced them to campus life but also to the behind-the-scenes support that keeps it running smoothly. When Mia Rincon '28, and Alisa Sexton '28, saw how dedicated the Operations and Events team was to making them feel at home, they were inspired to join the department themselves. Today, Rincon and Sexton serve as student coordinators, helping fellow residents feel at home and continuing the cycle of Aggies supporting Aggies.
Their story of leadership and friendship all started with one maintenance request. While Rincon and Sexton were not roommates, they were suitemates sharing an adjoining bathroom. The concerns raised in the request prompted staff to revisit an issue that had previously been reported. During that process, both rooms in the connecting suite were temporarily relocated. Rincon recalled that they “ended up getting in touch with Emile [and he] basically saved the day” throughout the relocation. They were impressed with the level of communication and care given by the Operations and Events team and as encouraged by program coordinator Emile Medrano, the two applied for open student worker positions.
Since the spring 2025 semester, both have held the title of student coordinator for the department. “We do a little bit of everything,” Sexton said. “It’s a lot of walking through the dorms, making sure that everything looks like it’s supposed to, doing inspections of different things, and there’s always an odd task here or there.” Both highlighted the wide variety of responsibilities and the busy seasons that keep their roles dynamic and themselves adaptable.
When asked about their favorite part of the job, Rincon said she enjoys the people and environment most. “It’s always teamwork stuff … I really like being in a team, like working with other people,” she said. Sexton said she enjoys the variety and unpredictability. “We do a little bit of everything …it’s always something different every day and you never really know what to expect.”
As student coordinators, the two not only take on diverse tasks and responsibilities but also gain important and valuable skills they will carry into their future careers. When asked about what they’ve learned on the job, they each had a different answer but one equally impactful. “[Here] you really learn how to adapt to situations quickly and do the best with what you have,” Sexton said. Rincon’s answer tied directly to the practice of one of the Aggie Core Values: leadership. “Some days you kind of have a leadership role … when we’re in team situations someone usually has to lead in that group and make sure everyone stays on task,” she said.
While Rincon and Sexton are only two individuals from the Operations and Events team, their individual contributions leave an impact on the residents. When asked about how they feel their work impacts the student resident experience, both responded as true Aggies, exemplifying their care for selfless service. “[Residents] want it to feel like home, so we’re really a big part of making it feel like home,” Sexton said. As Aggies committed to creating a welcoming environment, Rincon added, “We want to make sure it’s the best we can make it be for them.”
For Rincon and Sexton, the Department of Residence Life has become more than just a place to work. It’s a place where they have grown as leaders, built a friendship and found a way to give back to fellow Aggies. What started as a simple connection through a maintenance request turned into an opportunity to help others feel at home on campus.