James Bridgeforth, associate director of Housing and Residence Life at the University of South Alabama, was recently featured in the March-April issue of Talking Stick, a peer-reviewed magazine published by the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I).

Bridgeforth was profiled in the magazine because of his service as the chair of the Sustainable Facilities Committee (SFC), a subcommittee of the ACUHO-I Housing Facilities and Services Committee. The mission of the SFC is to inform and inspire sustainability initiatives for college and university residence facilities. Committee members include housing and residence life professionals, facilities professionals, Student Affairs administrators, architects and engineers.

Bridgeforth said his work on the SFC has been helpful in shaping USA�s residential program, which has emerged as a national leader with regard to its environmental and sustainability commitment.

�I must thank Dr. Chris Vinet, director of Housing and Residence Life at USA, for giving me the opportunity to serve on this committee,� Bridgeforth added.

Vinet said Bridgeforth is an exceptional employee who is dedicated to student and staff development at USA.

�We are so pleased with the residential-life advancement that�s occurring at USA, and the leadership being provided by James,� she noted.

Bridgeforth loves his job at the University and spends a great deal of his time working to retain students in USA housing and supporting Housing and Residence Life staff.  He is most proud of the fact that the University has reduced its use of water and energy under the campus’ sustainability program.  His goal is to position USA’s residential program as one of the top in the nation.

 “We provide a safe, comfortable and academically focused environment for our students, while also concentrating on improvements in green living,” he said.

A graduate student Community Directors program also has been implemented under Bridgeforth’s leadership.  The student directors live and work in the residence halls, where they help supervise Residential Assistants.  Bridgeforth said the program is designed to help interested students prepare for a career in housing and residential life.

There are 2,092 students living on campus. The demand for student housing is on the rise, and the University is steadily renovating and constructing residence halls. Bridgeforth said the USA Housing and Residence Life team is excited about the growth and other changes, such as the addition of a Faculty in Residence and Learning Communities in Stokes Hall.

“I am so proud to be a member of this great Housing and Residence Life team,” Bridgeforth added.  “We help our students grow by plugging them into the fabric of this great campus.  I am also grateful to the Talking Stick for spotlighting me in their recent publication.”