In the last 50 years, IUPUI has evolved into a vibrant urban university with thriving residential communities serving more than 2,400 students. As Associate Dean of Students and Director of Housing and Residence Life, Josh Skillman's job is to make those students feel at home in their IUPUI housing and help them establish and build a strong campus connection.
It's a responsibility that Skillman, a native of Owensboro, KY, takes quite seriously. His own college experience was shaped by his residence life team at Indiana University, who were instrumental in helping him adjust and thrive as an undergrad. It was his resident assistant who encouraged and supported him when he was ready to drop out of college altogether. Because of this tremendous personal impact, Skillman has devoted his professional career to student affairs, university housing and residence life.
Since his graduation from IU with a master's degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs, he's worked on four different campuses, first at the University of Georgia and most recently at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In between, he spent nine years on staff at IUPUI in the Office of Housing and Residence Life. Skillman played a critical role in the opening of North Hall in 2016, ushering in a new era of campus life at IUPUI. North Hall was the first traditional residence hall built on campus since it was established in 1969.
In August 2018, Skillman returned to IUPUI as Director of Housing and Residence Life. "My favorite thing about IUPUI is the energy and the passion that the students have here, and how eager they are to work with faculty and staff, and let us be a part of their IUPUI experience," he said.
