Residential Life Staff Member Honored with James C. Grimm Outstanding New Professional Award

March 18, 2025

Coordinator for Residential Accountability Xavi Boes was recently named the recipient of the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) James C. Grimm Outstanding New Professional Award.  

This award honors early-career professionals who have demonstrated excellence and promise in the field of housing and residence life. Boes, who joined the Residential Life staff in June 2023, has been lauded for his dedication, innovation, and student-centered approach. 

Xavi Boes Posing With Award

Coordinator for Residential Accountability Xavi Boes

鈥淚n just a year and a half, Xavi has revamped critical training materials within Residential Policy, ensuring that staff members across learning styles have the tools they need,鈥 said Kara Helgeson, Assistant Director of Residential Policy. 鈥淗e holds weekly open office hours for staff and is always available to support in-community members. His commitment to this role has been unwavering.鈥 

Boes鈥 responsibilities extend beyond policy development; he has overseen hundreds of student cases through 海角社区鈥檚 case management system. His timely and fair approach to student conduct has left a lasting impression, not just on colleagues, but on the students, he works with.

A student who went through the accountability process under Boes鈥 guidance shared, 鈥淗e was consistently helpful and understanding throughout the whole process. He made me feel as though my opinion was important and ensured that I was treated fairly. Working with him has positively shifted my life in a few different ways.鈥

Boes鈥 leadership extends into conflict resolution, where he has spearheaded efforts to improve the resolution process for students and staff alike. He has worked closely with the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX to integrate conflict resolution education into student programming. Jeannie Hopper, Director of Residential Education, praised Boes鈥 ability to step up when supervisors were unavailable in high-stakes situations.

鈥淭here were several times in the past year when Xavi was delegated high-level decision-making responsibilities. Student conduct issues don鈥檛 wait for convenient times, and when crises arose, Xavi collaborated with me directly to ensure student safety and uphold fairness,鈥 Hopper stated. 鈥淓ven in challenging moments, he demonstrated professionalism, diligence, and an unwavering commitment to our students.鈥

With a proven track record of dedication and excellence, Boes鈥 will continue to make an impact on the lives on students at 海角社区.