The New Executive Director of the Department of Housing and Residence Life Posted Friday, May 11, 2018 @ 4:32 PM Following the retirement of Ms. Christi Hartzler after over 30 years of service, an extensive search was conducted to find our new leader for the Department of Housing and Residence Life. We are pleased to introduce Dr. April Hicks Konvalinka as the new Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life. Dr. Hicks Konvalinka comes to UCF from previous roles with Old Dominion University, Arkansas State University, Mercer University and Maryville College. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at Western Carolina University, Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel Services at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and earned both a Specialist degree in Community College Teaching and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Arkansas State University. Her higher education and housing experience over the last 20 years spans the gamut from student development, housing operations and facilities experience, consulting work, and most recently as the previous Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. In addition to her university experience, April has been an active member and served on the executive board as the Facilities and Physical Environments Director of the Association of College and University Housing Officers –International (ACUHO-I). She is a contributing author in the ACUHO-I Talking Stick magazine. She also has acted as co-host of the Student Housing Insight podcast, and is an accomplished public speaker. April’s family has just moved to the Orlando area and she is diving into her new role and her new city with enthusiasm. She began her role with UCF on April 20, 2018. I hope you will join me in welcoming April to UCF. We are excited to greet her as she begins a new chapter for Housing and Residence Life. Like Tweet Share < Back to News