Name: Lucas Christain
Title: Assistant Dean of Students and Director, Office of Student Conduct
Department: Dean of Students Office
Where are you from? Iowa
What brought you to Student Affairs?
Belonging brought me into student affairs. As a first gen student who struggled to find his place and often felt like an impostor, student affairs programs and staff were critical in helping me find a sense of belonging at The University of Iowa.
How many years have you worked in Student Affairs at Northwestern? 2.5
What’s your favorite part about working in Student Affairs?
I love solving problems. The ability to consult with brilliant colleagues and work through challenging situations with students captures my attention easily. Additionally, I like seeing students succeed and overcome obstacles. While this work can be very demanding and at times draining, we’re privileged to work with young people at critical points in their lives and to learn from them as we do so.
What recommendation(s) do you have for someone new to Student Affairs?
Find time to make a contact or build a relationship in an office you’re not familiar with or wouldn’t think to view as a key partner of your work. This can allow you to receive broader perspective on the institution you’re working at and on how your work fits into that institution. Additionally, it’s important to find ways that your work overlaps with others, even if the specific missions or goals of your departments are seemingly different. In the end, we all are here to serve students and the broader academic mission.
Oh, and be mindful of how you use and experience social media in your life and work.
Who or what has had the greatest influence on your career?
Students have influenced my career the most. I have been fortunate to have excellent supervisors and meaningful professional opportunities, but students and their stories are what have changed my understanding of my work. Tasks, programs, crisis situation, and the many other things we juggle on a daily basis can easily become all about execution or management. I’ve found that I’m most motivated and moved back towards my calling in this work when I hear and experience student stories.
What inspires you?
Passionate and genuine people inspire me. I’m a sappy person who gets emotional about things like displays of integrity and compassion. That’s the kind of stuff that makes my eyes well up. I find complex situations that hold tension between meaningful values and the ways that people navigate them to be inspiring.
What can’t you live without?
Early (I mean really early) morning coffee, reading, and meditation.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Reading, eating, watching sports, shuffling my children to and from things, and consuming too much information about American politics. I also enjoy quiet time with my partner and dog on the couch after our children are asleep.
What’s your favorite spot on campus? The painted rocks on the shore of Lake Michigan
Each week a different staff member in the division of Student Affairs will be featured. Staff can opt in to be featured, by filling out the Staff Spotlight Submission form. Student Affairs Marketing staff reach out to staff from across the division asking for participation. The spotlights will be featured in the Student Affairs Snapshot e-newsletter.