Judy Caruso

DIRECTOR / RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

 “My responsibility is for student housing - we take care of everything, from the roof to the doors to the furniture. For many of our students it is their first time living on their own, sometimes they make mistakes. They do things where I think  ‘what were you thinking?’ And so we talk about that. Otherwise you would get frustrated: ‘Why did they put aquarium rocks down in their disposal?’ They just don’t know! They’re just learning. So if you ask them they'll be like ‘I just thought that’s what you did with them, I don’t know.’ And there is always something similar. And it's fun, we kind of get to see the students grow some, too, especially at UD. Our students start building that community when they’re a first year student. You start in a residence hall, you have a common area bathroom, which is great for your growth because you get to know people that way, it gets you out! Then that may move to an apartment, and eventually a house and have that real independent living experience. 

We have a relatively small team of people who maintain these properties. I meet with them everyday and we talk about serving the students- we’re a service organization. It’s a large, large area, when you think about all the residential areas on campus, it’s a lot to take care of. I’m proud of our little group that keeps it all together.

We can always tell at the beginning of the year that students are learning how to cook. Someone will call me and say ‘Dayton Fire’s on the scene.’ And they may not set the place on fire, but they won’t take the plastic off the pizza. I used to say I’ve seen it all. Just when you think you've seen everything, I’ve seen some crazy things… I don’t want to give any ideas! 

I had a live-in job managing the McGinnis Center in the late 80s. It was a crazy time, but UD, I knew was special back then, the community. You knew by meeting the students. Everybody knew everybody here, and part of that, I feel, is the neighborhood. They are very welcoming, and that is just getting passed from generation to generation. 

They spend a lot of time in their UD homes and do a lot of learning there as well. I try to emphasize to the staff that, you know, ‘what you do is vitally important’, just show appreciation of the work that they do. You know, if you don’t have heat or your sink’s clogged because you put aquarium rocks down your sink, it makes it harder for you to be able to study and do the things that you need to do. Students do learn in the classroom, obviously, but a lot of learning takes place living with other individuals, that’s a lot of learning about yourself too!

My job is different every day, which sometimes is a good thing…I don't know that I could be an accountant. We need accountants, but I don’t know that I could do that kind of work. I do a lot of walking…rarely do I get to follow my to-do list. I’ve dealt with fires and floods. This recent freeze about 13 houses had frozen pipes, the wind was blowing and freezing interior pipes! We kind of deal with stuff like that…a lot. 

I just don’t know day to day…what’s going to happen today? What’s going to happen this weekend? I tell the staff, I don’t always know the answers. Sometimes strange things will happen, not routine things. I think that’s probably what I like best. I do like being in a university setting, I think the students keep you young, you know, I do like seeing them progress. And I try not to lecture the students. Sometimes you just have to look at it and say ‘Hmm. Wow. Look at that! Never seen that before. What are we going to do?’ And then figure out what you’re going to do to move on. If you got upset about things or angry…I would rather have a sense of humor, or just be calm, but it doesn’t help to get frantic. Our small, tiny part of that is fulfilling.”