Mercyhurst names Sidney Rice new director of residence life/student conduct

Sidney Rice has been named the new director of Residence Life and Student Conduct for Mercyhurst University, effective immediately.

The promotion from her former post as associate director was announced today by Vice President for Student Life Dr. Laura Zirkle.

“I am excited to welcome Sidney to this important position,” Zirkle said. “As a leader in our department since 2020, her energy, experience, and ability to connect with students have distinguished her as an asset to the university.”

Rice is well-rounded in leadership and management, having worked in residence life and housing at North Carolina Central University and at Fairmont State University in West Virginia before coming to Mercyhurst.

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Rice majored in psychology and minored in education. She continued her studies at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, completing graduate studies in student affairs administration and higher education. 

An advocate for social justice, diversity and equity, and mental health, Zirkle said Rice brings the salient skills as well as the disposition necessary to achieve success in her new role.

While at Mercyhurst, she led the department in training and professional development efforts, including the creation of a new holistic program model for RA training. She also served on the university’s Student of Concern Committee and its Bias and Discrimination-Based Investigation Committee.

“I am so excited to start this new chapter at Mercyhurst,” Rice said. “This position will give me the opportunity to continue building relationships with Mercyhurst students and the campus community. I can’t wait to see what this new position has in store and what it will allow me to do to benefit our students.”