For nearly 20 years, Chasity Ali has built her career around an important part of the college experience: helping students learn, grow, and find community outside of the classroom. Now, as St. Thomas Aquinas College’s new Director of Residence Life, she is bringing that experience and her passion for student development to STAC.
Chasity earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Drexel University, where she is also pursuing her Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership.
Her career in Housing and Residence Life began at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a public residential high school for high-achieving students and part of the University of North Carolina system. She later spent more than nine years at The New School in New York City, followed by roles at Stony Brook University and Iona College, now Iona University.
While in her fifth year at Iona and with several years of mid-level management experience, Chasity came across the opportunity to lead Residence Life at St. Thomas Aquinas College: “I was ready to ascend into a departmental leadership role—and steer the ship!” she said. Learning more about STAC and meeting members of the community only strengthened her desire to join the College.
For Chasity, the most rewarding part of working in Student Affairs is the opportunity to make a lasting impact on students. She especially values seeing relationships with students grow beyond their college years into meaningful mentor-mentee connections. Over the course of her career, those relationships have developed into a broad network of individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise who continue to support one another personally and professionally.
Her advice to students beginning their own college journeys reflects that emphasis on growth: “You grow through what you go through. You’re going to become your best self by stepping outside of your comfort zone and seeing more of the world around you. Take a chance on a new experience, take a chance on yourself – and if resources allow, STUDY ABROAD for a semester!”
Outside of work, Chasity enjoys spending time with her family, particularly on outings she calls “Ali Adventures.” She loves taking walks, going to the zoo, reading, watching television, writing, and trying recipes from The New York Times Cooking section.
As she begins this next chapter at St. Thomas Aquinas College, Chasity brings with her nearly two decades of experience and a clear sense of what makes residence life meaningful: creating a community where students can take chances, build connections, and grow into the people they want to become. Welcome, Chasity!