NURTURING A Connected Student Community

College campuses around the country are charged with youthful electricity. Quentin Breckenridge, Spring Hill's new director of Center of Student Involvement (CSI), felt called to elevate his campus community in his own years at school. "When I was an undergrad, I was inspired by one of my hall directors to become an RA and then pursue a master’s degree in student affairs," Breckenridge reflected.

Breckenridge's passion for student projects led him to different universities around the country until ultimately coming to The Hill, which proved to be a perfect fit. Breckenridge reminisced, "When I first arrived, I was blown away with the beauty of Spring Hill's campus. More deeply, I realized the amount of potential that rests here at Spring Hill."

Over the course of his career in student engagement, Breckenridge has encountered both positive and negative situations on campuses. At Benedictine College, Breckenridge served as a resident manager where he made deep connections with students at the vibrant Catholic college located in Kansas. However, Breckenridge also suffered the heartbreak of losing Lincoln College's community when the historic university closed in 2022. These situations gave Breckenridge a powerful understanding of the high stakes collegiate leaders face when guiding institutions. His experiences also give him perspective of the great potential that exists at Spring Hill College.

Breckenridge has worked tirelessly to tap into the school's potential by connecting with Spring Hill's crown jewel: the vibrant student community. "One of my missions has been to strengthen student life by developing new clubs and organizations on campus. So, this past spring has given me that opportunity to step into a leadership role in both student and institutional development."

Mr. Q, as he is commonly referred to by students, has big plans to impact the school community, but he has also been touched by the school community himself. "Moving from the Midwest to the South, I quickly realized I needed to have genuine passion in an area like this. It was a big transition for me."

Spring Hill College is fueled by the various passions and personalities of its community members, and Mr. Q's desire to create an inclusive and diverse environment for students of all backgrounds speaks to the tune of the school's Jesuit mission. Breckenridge noted, "We make a strong effort to be open to all of our students, regardless of their background. So whether it's our international students, our students of color or different nationalities, we want to make sure that our space is open for those students to come in and have important conversations or even just to say hello."

Breckenridge's passion has struck a chord with students on campus. "A fond memory of mine is when two students stopped me outside of my office and told me, 'Mr. Q! You're bringing so much to our campus that wasn't here.' As I was experiencing the transition to this new community, those interactions meant so much to me," said Breckenridge. He also noted that he worked with both students to eventually found a new club of their own.

One immediate change

Mr. Q brought to the CSI department was the makeover of the CSI's office. What was once a simple administrative room has now become a visually stimulating and vibrant hub for students to build relationships and unwind. Breckenridge said, "In the first few months we wanted to get students in this office and change the culture of this office, even the physical aspect. I wanted our office space to have meaning to it." Those changes include a neon "Hill Yeah" sign, a small desk to open up a more welcoming space and a green wall with green artificial foliage. The changes made to the area have made it a popular spot for current and prospective students alike.

Spring Hill College’s English as a Second Language Program gives students like Kaitlyn Bernard an opportunity to serve members of Mobile’s Spanish-speaking community by removing language barriers. Bernard is a junior majoring in secondary education and Spanish.