Josh O’Connor, assistant vice president for student life at University of the Pacific, is the 2024 recipient of the Robin Orr Outstanding Practitioner Award, presented annually by the Association of Leadership Educators for excellence in student life work.

The national award honors work in student affairs, administration, training and mentoring, leadership and other fields.

“Josh’s diligent work and student-centric efforts make such a positive impact at Pacific,” said Maria Blandizzi, vice president for student life. “We have put  important programs and initiatives in his hands and he delivers positive outcomes every time.”

Those outcomes over the past year include bringing TEDx talks to Pacific, helping with the design of the new Southwest Hall, bringing the common book program to Pacific and helping run the annual Pacific Summer High School Institute.

O’Connor shared thoughts on the award, his career and higher education.

Sum up what this award means to you.

O’Connor: I am very humbled. I have deep respect for the Association of Leadership Educators and the national work that it does, focusing on students.

Share some of the past work you have done with the association.

O’Connor: It is a great organization. I have been a member for 10 years during my time at UCLA and Pacific. My work with Ted Talks also helped make me a candidate for the award. I also have helped run the association’s annual conference while sitting on its board of directors.

How does your philosophy about higher education mesh with the expectations of this award?

O’Connor: Many people confuse leadership with positional leadership. Leadership is much more than having a title. You must live and embrace the expectations of leadership. I strongly believe that if someone works hard and is dedicated to higher education, then they can succeed in leadership.

Talk about the importance of mentoring.

O’Connor: I got to where I am in this profession through the help of amazing mentors. I have received mentoring from cabinet members, colleagues, faculty, staff, peers and students. If I can reciprocate that even a fraction for others, that will be amazing.

Let’s have rapid responses about Pacific and higher education. You get one sentence for each prompt.

O’Connor: OK, let’s go.

Residential life: We have done amazing renovations to our residence halls and the result is more students want to live on campus.

Newly planned Southwest Hall: I am so excited for this new residence hall coming that will impact the dynamic of campus.

Food service: The continuity is so important in having a 40-year association with Bon Appetit.

Pacific Summer High School Institute: We are building an amazing pipeline for students with help from our upperclassmen.

Yield and retention of students: This is a complicated issue nationwide, but at Pacific we have processes and protocols in place to keep our students and make sure they graduate in four years.

Pacific’s future: I believe President Christopher Callahan and the Pacific team will accomplish the goal of being the nation’s No. 1 private institution within the next eight years.