Reporter I Sartavia Morland
There are almost 1,900 student residents in Lafollette that interact with custodial, dining, and residence hall employees every day. Behind the scenes, Hobson looks to figures like his father, previous supervisors, and God as examples from which he draws energy.
Insightful conversations and opportunities to help students find their way around his hometown are some of the perks of the job, according to Hobson.
Relations between students and the university have improved over the years and an outreach in more commonplaces could be the key to strengthening those bridges.
“I think the energy of the students, they’re here learning and growing,” Hobson said. “They’re going to be our future leaders, so we can draw from that energy and we can help them a little bit along the way maybe with advice or just whatever that may be.”
In addition to the housekeeping and ministry work, Hobson has eight months to bridge the gap between students and the Muncie community.
LEADERSHIP WITHOUT TITLES: BRIDGING THE GAP
Eight is the magic number for Greg Hobson, a 28-year Ball State employee. Eight months every academic year are spent making the 25-minute commute to and from Ball State. Eight hours are spent cleaning, dusting, mopping and vacuuming on an average workday that starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Eight floors are in every hall inhabited by freshmen, international students, and some upperclassmen.
“I’m just pretty much a regular employee,” said Hobson. “I try to point out a few of the community things that maybe they [Ball State students] could take advantage of while they’re here and let them see there’s a little bit more to Muncie than just Ball State.”
Hobson is a part of housekeeping in Woody/Shales, one of the four residence halls in Ball State’s Lafollette Complex, but can be found all around the building. He started working at the university in 1986 and has since then come to learn about the relationship between Ball State and the local Muncie community from both perspectives.
“I think leadership can come in a lot of different forms. Not necessarily just in title, but a lot of different areas too.”
A good belief system and faith are two of the resources Hobson attributes to his foundation as a leader. He spends 3 to 5 hours per week participating in the door-to-door public ministry for his church. The door-to-door ministers get instruction each week on their public speaking and moral conduct.
The skills developed through the “Our Ministry School Program” have helped Hobson in his ability to reach out to others in the community and on campus.
“I think just getting to know and acquainted with the students here it keep you young at heart,” said Hobson. “I think too it keeps me focused on, you know, I’m being looked up to a little bit as an example myself.”
Graphic I Erika Espinoza