Who's SAU? Daneel Gayle

• Area Coordinator of Second Year Experience (Davis, Franklin, and Rohlman halls)
• Master of Public Health student

Daneel works tirelessly to oversee and support her Resident Assistants (RAs) in Davis, Franklin, and Rohlman Halls. Even in a normal year it's a 24/7 job, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, Residence Life staff have transformed into frontline workers helping to keep hundreds of students healthy and informed.

How does your Residence Life job pair with your Master of Public Health classes?
"One of the requirements for my studies is to complete 200 hours of Applied Practical Experience (APE), so I'm really excited to have the opportunity to complete my APE here at SAU. It ties well with my current duties as an Area Coordinator because I'm providing additional support to our students and the COVID student support team."

Compared to last fall, what differences are you seeing in students, such as changes in mood or adherence to COVID health protocols?
"My residents are experiencing fatigue with COVID-19 but I think some of us experience that at times. With residents having already experienced the fall semester, they know walking into spring what the expectations are and who they need to reach out to. This semester they seemed a bit relaxed, like, this is their new normal and they know what to do, whereas, in the fall, they were learning what the new normal is. We just can't let our guard down."

When more people become vaccinated and portions of life can return to normalcy, what are some of the behaviors, activities and lifestyle changes you will continue to practice?
"The last time I was sick was during spring break last year and I had bronchitis and ear infection in both ears. Since then, I have not been sick. What makes it interesting is that I get sick quite often, like almost every 2-3 months I would have seasonal allergies or maybe a cold. It's now more than a year without getting sick. So, I would definitely like to keep up with hygiene practices. Maybe I wasn't as much a germaphobe as I thought. I might dabble with wearing my mask longer or at least during colder seasons."

What have you not been able to do during pandemic that you can't wait to resume?
"Travel, especially internationally. I made a promise to myself when I received my bachelor's that I would travel internationally once a year. As soon as things become normal, I'm going to make up for lost time. I already have a list of places to go: Jamaica, Maldives, Santorini ... basically anywhere by the sea."

–Robin JB Ruetenik '15 MOL