From Vandal to Leader: Alex call finds his calling in student support

From navigating the challenges of his own freshman year to guiding new students through theirs, Alex Call ’23 found direction through student leadership at University of Idaho, a journey that ultimately led him to Boise State University as a resident director. After multiple jobs that called for Call to assist his fellow students, Call found his involvement on campus laid the foundation for a career dedicated to helping others find their place in college — just like he did.

Born and raised in Boise, Call chose U of I because it offered the perfect mix of independence and familiarity. The strong Vandal community and welcoming campus culture were exactly what he was looking for in a college experience.

“Everybody I knew who went to U of I really loved it and had a very strong sense of pride for their school,” he said.

Originally double majoring in forestry and political science, Call found himself more drawn to government and public service. He ultimately chose to focus on political science, with aspirations to follow in his father’s footsteps working for the state of Idaho.

Call describes his time at U of I in two phases: before the COVID-19 pandemic and during. His first two years, Call felt disconnected from campus because he was nervous to put himself out there, but during the pandemic, that heightened sense of isolation brought a realization. He knew he needed to challenge himself to find the friendships, fun experiences and sense of purpose that make the college experience truly meaningful.

That decision changed everything.

During his junior year, Call became a resident assistant (RA), a student leader responsible for supporting and guiding other students in university housing, and joined ASUI, University of Idaho’s official student body government. These positions gave him many opportunities to develop his leadership skills and build meaningful relationships on campus.

“Being an RA was a life-changing experience because now I’m a resident director, and there’s a very direct path between the two,” Call said.

As an RA during COVID, Call learned to adapt quickly.

“We had to get creative in the ways we connected with our residents, organized events and interacted with them as a whole," he said.

The experience taught him empathy, problem-solving, and how to create a supportive environment for others, even during challenging times.

His senior year, he stepped into a new leadership role as a senior RA, responsible for mentoring a team of eight RAs.

“Getting to lead that group helped me create a foundation of skills that I’m still building on today,” he said. “Without that experience of leading a team, I would have had a really hard time stepping into the role that I’m in now.”

After graduating in 2023, Call returned to Boise to take on a new challenge as a resident director (RD) at Boise State University, where he now oversees 12 RAs and an entire residence hall, all while working toward a master’s degree in public administration.

“Being an RD wasn’t something I had planned on. I don’t think many people go to college thinking they want to work in housing or run a residence hall, but it just fell perfectly into place,” he said.

The transition wasn’t without its challenges, though. Just months before, Call had been in the same position as the students he now supervised, which forced him to navigate boundaries and adjust his leadership style.

Still, his own college experience helps him connect with the students he serves.

“My personal experience of struggling to connect with campus, then pushing myself to get more involved and engage with others, really shaped my approach to interacting with residents,” he said. “It definitely gives me a lot more perspective and empathy for them.”

Looking back, Call sees University of Idaho as the place where he found his voice, built his confidence and gained the leadership skills that set him up for success.

“When I think about what I got from going to U of I versus another school, I like that U of I encourages you to be bold and have confidence,” he said. “It’s taking pride in who you are, what you do and where you came from.”

His advice for current Vandals?

“Start with maybe,” Call said. “Don’t totally discount experiences before you even consider how they could fit into your life. I know college is so busy and can be overwhelming but getting those experiences of being involved really connects you to other people and it connects you to the campus.”