Resident Assistant and PR Major, Billy Couturier, Applies Leadership and Crisis Communication in Campus Role
By: Mia Cascioli
For public relations junior, Billy Couturier, stepping into the role of resident assistant at Michigan State University has offered unexpected insights into communication, leadership and managing crises. Couturier was encouraged by his first-year RA to apply for the role which Couturier, a natural born leader, was swiftly offered the position after the interview process and started as an RA in the fall of 2023.
During his time as an RA in MSU’s Wonders Hall, Couturier said his main responsibilities can include, taking care of residents, sending emails and GroupMe messages, creating and designing bulletin boards of campus resources, planning floor and community-wide events and other administrative tasks as needed.
Although his role as an RA is not just about administrative tasks, it is also connected to his major in public relations, particularly when it comes to understanding how to connect with people. Majoring in PR has helped Couturier improve communication with his student residents. He knows the importance of appealing to an audience, this is something at the front of his mind when Couturier plans and promotes events.
“I think being an RA would be good for other AD+PR students and maybe even for all communication students. It’s a lot of writing,” said Couturier.
For students in the College of Communications Arts and Sciences interested in crisis communications specifically, being an RA offers valuable entry-level experience firsthand.
“It’s always waiting for a crisis to happen, that’s how it feels sometimes,” said Couturier. “You have to remember all these rules when you’re in a crisis situation. If you’re on duty, you could deal with the crisis anywhere from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., or even if it’s 2 p.m. on a Friday.”
Being an RA is not like other campus jobs, there are no days off. At any given time, a resident could go to their RA, whether it be in-person or virtually, and converse with their RA about a concern they are having and seek advice on how to move forward. For Couturier, his RA role is not the only job he has on campus. He is also a DEI communications intern with the MSU Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion to complete the required public relations field experience hours need to graduate.
Despite the perks of a free meal plan and single room, one of the biggest challenges of the role is being seen as a leader amongst residents. You are surrounded by peers who are the same age and even might share a class with you. Balancing the role of being a peer in the classroom and an authoritative figure in the residence hall can require adjustment.
However, Couturier says the comradery with coworkers and leadership staff offers the opportunity to build connections outside of one’s program and bond over shared experiences as RAs. Ultimately, being an RA is more than just a campus job for Couturier; it is valuable experience in leadership, communication and crisis management—skills that will undoubtedly follow him with his DEI internship and beyond into post-graduation.
For more information about resident assistants and how to apply, visit https://liveon.msu.edu/resident-assistant.