Dr. Celena Jackson

Associate Director - Housing Operations (Custodial)

 

I truly love what I do and the interactions I have with students and my staff. Often students come to college trying to find their way in this world/life. In the 4-6 years they will spend with us, they will grow and develop more as an adult than any other years coming forward. As student affairs professionals, we have the ability to impact their growth and development through exposure to numerous walks of life, introductions to various resources and support tools on campus, and simple interactions and mentoring opportunities. Watching these young individuals grow and develop over the years and seeing how far they have come from freshman year to graduation time is remarkable and rewarding, knowing we played a small part in that growth. That’s why I love what I do and truly find fulfillment in my role. 

 

"The time students spend living in the halls, interacting with one another, helps develop interpersonal skills and exposes them to more life lessons than they can imagine nor comprehend in that moment. When they grow older and look back on their time in the res halls, they will forever be grateful for those experiences, friendships formed, and lessons learned." -Dr. Celena

If I didn’t have this job, I would be a

Large scale wedding/event decorator. Love creating memorable events and planning even the smallest details to create a wonderful party/event.  

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is:

Take time to get to know yourself. "Know thyself," said Aristotle. When you know who you are, you can be wise about your goals, your dreams, your standards, your convictions. Knowing who you are allows you to live your life with purpose and meaning. 

The one thing I wish incoming first-year students knew is: 

Be true to yourself and never change who you are to fit into a group/click. You will eventually find “your” people with whom you just click with, and they will fully accept you for who you are. If you change who you are to fit into a group you are not meant to be a part of, you will only find yourself unhappy and always trying to put up a façade to fit in. Be You, Love You, Own You!!! 

Education

PhD, Louisiana State University 
MS, Louisiana State University
BS, Louisiana Tech University

Contact Dr. Celena

trahanc@lsu.edu 
225-578-5446
107 Louise Garig Hall