Texas State's Proite honored with ACUHO-I Parthenon Award

Rosanne Proite, former director of Housing and Residential Life at Texas State University, has been honored with the Parthenon Award by the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I).

The award was bestowed during the ACUHO-I annual conference, which was held virtually June 22.

Proite was one of five recipients to be awarded the association’s highest honor for her outstanding achievement, service, leadership and contributions to the field of university housing. To be considered for the award, members must have contributed 10 years of service to the housing, residential life or affiliated professions, as well as five years of service at the regional or international level of ACUHO-I. A minimum of $5,000 in donations to the ACUHO-I Foundation are collected on behalf of each recipient. The nominations and championing process are kept secret so that the recipients are surprised at the conference.

Serving as the director at Texas State beginning in July of 2007, Proite supervised the administration of the department, including the construction of more than 1,800 new residence hall beds and renovations of several existing residence halls, the expansion of the living-learning communities program and the development of the residential curriculum model for freshmen living in university residence halls. Proite was also instrumental in developing several scholarship opportunities for students who live in on-campus housing, including an endowed scholarship in collaboration with Spawglass Construction for students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. 

In addition to her role at Texas State, Proite has been active with ACUHO-I. She served as a leader and member of various committees and task forces at the regional and national level through the years, serving on the executive board of ACUHO-I for three years and as a presenter at national and regional conferences and institutes.

Proite holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Kansas State University, as well as a master of science in college student development from Western Illinois University and a bachelor of science in history and political science from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point.

Proite retired from Texas State in August 2020, after 13 years of service. Prior to her time at Texas State, she served as the executive director of campus life at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, director of housing and residential life at Florida Atlantic University, associate director for the division of housing and dining services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, assistant director of housing and dining services at Kansas State University and residence hall director at the University of Iowa.