Alexia Bowe is making herself at home as Concordia University Wisconsin’s new Director of Residence Life.
Even though she’s lived most of her life in Texas, Bowe is a Midwest gal at heart. She will readily (and jokingly) tell people she was “forcefully removed” from Wisconsin at age 8 when her father’s job prompted the family to relocate to the Lone Star State. Ever since, she’s been waiting on God’s timing to return to her roots.
His timing, as it turns out, is now. Earlier this month, Bowe moved from Belton, Texas, to Mequon, Wisconsin to begin her role as Director of Residence Life at Concordia. She brings to the role nearly a decade of experience in residence life and a deep passion for student development.
A talent for nurturing growth in others
Bowe—pronounced like the hair adornment, and “Alexia” like the Amazon virtual voice assistant, she likes to tell people—recently earned her Master of Science in Higher Education, Student Affairs. Though she has a full career in rising residence life positions at three different universities, this is her first time overseeing the entirety of an institution’s residence life team. Most recently, she served as Resident Director at her alma mater, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
It was at Mary Hardin-Baylor that her love of the profession began. Originally, she was in pursuit of becoming a teacher. As a sophomore, however, she applied to become a Resident Assistant and found she loved the role so much that, after graduating, she pursued a job in the field.
“I’ve always loved teaching, but I realized I didn’t want to do that in a traditional classroom setting,” Bowe says. “I’m excited to help people learn and grow, just in a slightly different environment.”
Developing a dynamic team
Bowe has extensive experience in student leadership, programming, crisis management, and departmental development. With a master’s degree now in hand, she is eager to bring her knowledge and experience to Concordia, not just to lead but to invest in the growth of her team.
At Concordia, her team includes five Resident Directors who oversee six student Assistant Resident Directors, 46 student Resident Assistants, and four student Alternate Resident Assistants stationed in eight residence halls. In any given year, up to 1,623 undergraduate students live in on-campus housing at Concordia, and, together with her team, Bowe is responsible for ensuring these students’ Concordia home-away-from-home is as comfortable and enriching as possible.
“For me, it’s not just about sitting behind a desk,” Alexia shares. “I know firsthand the challenges Resident Directors and down the line face. My goal is to pour into my team here, support them in their professional development, and help prepare them for their next steps, whether in residence life or beyond.”
She emphasizes the importance of walking alongside her team to provide guidance. “I’m not afraid to put the mud boots on and get into the dirt if I need to, because I’ve been there.”
A strong sense of community
One of the things that drew Bowe to Concordia was the strong sense of community she felt when she visited here. Raised in the Christian faith, she says she is excited to join a community where faith is at the core.
The unique physical layout of Concordia was also a draw as it helped to foster said community. “The tunnel system. It sounds kind of silly but that was one of the most exciting things for me when I learned about that,” she says. “It essentially creates one big building that fosters a larger community. The accessibility and support among students, RAs, and RDs is truly special.”
As she steps into her new role, Bowe looks forward to getting to know the students, staff, and faculty at Concordia. She is eager to build upon the university’s already strong foundation of residence life, ensuring that every student finds a place where they feel supported, challenged, and prepared for life beyond college.
Want in?
Living on campus at CUW is a fantastic opportunity to interact with other students from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. You can fully soak in the true “college experience,” by getting involved in the social, intellectual, physical, cultural, and spiritual events CUW offers. Take a peek at our residence halls and learn more about residence life at Concordia.