Linda Kasper, currently executive director of residential education at the University of South Florida, has been named executive director of University Housing at the University of Georgia.
 
Kasper will provide strategic leadership for a comprehensive housing and residential life program for UGA students. She will report directly to the vice president for student affairs and serve as a member of the leadership team for the Division of Student Affairs.
 
“I am extremely excited for Linda’s innovative leadership in helping us to provide the best residential life and learning experience possible for UGA students,” said Victor K. Wilson, vice president for student affairs. “Her depth of expertise and experience, along with her leadership on the national level, will be a tremendous benefit for housing and residential life at UGA.”
Kasper’s appointment is effective Dec. 11.
 
In this role, she will lead a department that accommodates more than 7,600 students in 22 residence halls, almost 600 family and graduate apartment units, 48 townhouses and six single family homes on the Health Sciences Campus, and four Greek Park fraternity houses. She will oversee more than 200 full-time employees, nearly 500 student employees, and administer a departmental budget of approximately $47 million.
 
Specifically, Kasper will further enhance the department’s impact on student learning and development and connections with faculty and academic partners, continue to upgrade and improve the campus’s housing supply, including the ongoing renovation of Russell Hall, and implement the Housing Comprehensive Plan.
 
Kasper noted the University of Georgia’s strong reputation while expressing her excitement to serve at UGA.
 
“I have known past interns, graduate students, staff members, and current staff working at UGA,” she said. “It is an honor to continue my career at an institution that is innovative, vision-driven, and one that promotes student and staff success.”
 
Kasper brings more than 20 years of experience in University Housing. She previously served as assistant director for residential education at the University of Arizona and director of residential education and associate director of University, Housing and Dining Services at Oregon State University.
 
At South Florida, Kasper oversaw the implementation of a residential curriculum that contributed to increase USF’s overall persistence rate to record highs. She also served as interim chief housing officer, supervising facilities, operations and outreach, and budget and finance. USF is currently building one of the largest student housing facilities in Florida, to open 2,100 beds in 2017 and 2018.
 
Her professional associations include recent election as residence education director for the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International and service as co-chair for the annual ACPA Residential Curriculum Institute, as well as faculty chair for the National Housing Training Institute.
 
Kasper earned her Master of Education in higher education and student affairs administration from the University of Vermont and her Bachelor of Science in public relations with a minor in broadcasting from Northern Michigan University.