Welcome Nick Haught: University Housing's New Director of Residence Education

University Housing is pleased to introduce Nick Haught as the new director of residence education.  

"The diversity of Nick's experiences, combined with his ideas and enthusiasm for building a strong Razorback community, makes him the right choice for our team," said Jon Shaffer, assistant vice chancellor for University Housing. 

Haught's career in student affairs and residence life spans almost 15 years, with significant contributions at Western Kentucky University (WKU), where he most recently served as an assistant director in WKU's Housing and Residence Life Leadership Team. 

There he helped oversee strategic planning, risk mitigation and the overall vision for the residential student experience in a 5,100-bed operation.  

Haught collaborated with various campus partners to promote a premier living-learning environment, emphasizing safety, security, diversity, equity and inclusion. He supervised both professional and student staff, managed the Living Learning Community housing and led the first-year transition program.  

His efforts more than doubled the participant numbers among first-generation students. It also led to a grant virtually eliminating participation fees. 

Early intervention is critical to graduation and retention rates among students, he said. Many of the programs he has run or partnered with emphasize this theme. 

Haught holds a master's degree in college student personnel services and administration and a bachelor's degree in accounting, both from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in Conway. 

Haught got his own start in student affairs as an undergraduate student studying accounting. He was befriended by a resident assistant (RA) and then became a RA at UCA himself. 

He said that this RA's outreach was very meaningful for him in his own academic career, influencing him at a key moment early in his education.  

As a student affairs leader, he strives to create a residential environment where new students can quickly find a place where they belong in the residence halls. 

He said he is excited to join the growing U of A campus community. 

"As an Arkansan and a life-long Razorback fan, coming to the University of Arkansas is a bit like coming home," said the Bald Knob native.  

Please join us in welcoming Nick Haught to the U of A community. We look forward to the positive impact he will have on our residence education programs and to our students' success. 

About University Housing. University Housing is a department within the Division of Student Affairs serving a residential community of around 7,200 students. More than 200 students find employment opportunities with University Housing each year. We offer educational programs that support student success and services that help students focus on academics at the University of Arkansas. 

About the Division of Student Affairs. The Division of Student Affairs supports the whole student by cultivating transformative experiences and environments that promote student well-being, sense of community, and success. We prioritize student access, well-being, and belonging, post-graduation success, and building a strong organizational culture.