The new Director of Residence Life, Lucas Herb-Mullin, has taken on a new role at Simpson College this year and looks to help students have the best experience on campus. 

Herb-Mullin has a decorated background and education. He earned his Doctorate in Education at Baker University, masters degree in science at the University of Kansas, bachelor’s in public administration at Washburn University, and studied leadership academy at Jacksonville University. 

After the passing of his niece, Herb-Mullin reflected on what he thought his purpose was.

“I was like Lucas, you know, how can you use your superpower for good?” Herb-Mullin said. “My superpower, I feel, is working with young people and building connections and I enjoy that.” 

With his newfound superpower, he found himself wanting to help college students have great experiences; he then landed a position at Texas A&M. With the size of the university, though, he realized he wanted to be somewhere smaller. 

“I was like, okay, you know, I know after being here, this place has its issues. Every place does, right? But I feel like I miss the smaller campus, the private institution,” he said.

Herb-Mullin then began looking for a new position, when he saw a post about Simpson looking for a new residence life director.

“I happened to see a posting, I looked up Simpson, I looked at the values, and the mission and all that good stuff, and it really sounded like a really good place aligned with my values as a person,” he said. 

One thing that Herb-Mullin emphasized many times was the culture and the values that Simpson holds. A goal he wanted to accomplish for this year lies within those cultures and values.

“I want to start really just learning the college and culture,” he said. 

Coming from a big school like Texas A&M, he finds it unique for Simpson’s students to be mainly living on campus. 

“Also, why Simpson? I think it’s special because I can be a part of the experience for all students,” he said. “It’s not just, you know, the few or the freshmen who live here, it’s literally all students.”

Simpson has been growing in enrollment every year, which greatly impacts residence life. As Simpson continues to expand in student population, residence life must account for these numbers.

“So, like, growing, 10 percent, 10 percent, 10 percent, like, can we do that? Like can people have the same experience in five years from now if we keep growing?” Herb Mullin said. 

Christopher Olds, a Community Assistant in the Clinton apartments, said he likes what he is seeing from the new Director of Residence Life. 

“He’s doing a very good job of like, okay do you have a problem and you can’t get it fixed, he’s like okay let me call someone right now,” Olds said.

Olds described Herb-Mullin as someone who gets things done efficiently.

“I had an issue where an air conditioning system wasn’t being fixed for about a week and a half, and then he made one phone call and got it fixed right away,” Olds said

The Simpson students have made a great impression on Herb-Mullin in the first month of being back to school. 

“I’m really impressed with the students and how much they care, and their love for being here, it’s something special,” Herb-Mullin said. 

Simpson has a new Director of Residence Life who is dedicated to his work, and the school has made a positive impression on him in his first month here.