Technically, Leah Reuber’s title is assistant dean of students and director of residential life, but really what her job comes down to, she says, is creating space for communities to grow. Reuber has been doing that since joining the College in 2022, overseeing residential life and housing operations. Her own growth has taken her in a multitude of directions, from creating art from mismatched items to appreciating the wildlife just outside her office.
Besides Gambier, where is your favorite place in the world to be?
My mom’s kitchen in the winter. There is something about a warm kitchen, filled with the smell of home cooking, while I pet her dog, Tilda, and talk about everything and nothing.
Why did you come to Kenyon?
The people. It sounds trite but the people I have interacted with since Day 1 of my introduction to Kenyon College have been incredibly impactful on my own personal and professional growth. They are also great people to be around and laugh at my jokes almost all of the time; win/win.
Fill in the blank: My experience at Kenyon would not be the same without ______.
The wildlife outside of my office. Being outside is not one of my favorite things, but seeing a family of raccoons traipse across the walkway outside of my office is.
What is your favorite Kenyon tradition?
Dog parade. Those two words each land in my “top 20 best words of all time” so what’s not to love?
What Kenyon class would you love to take — again or for the first time?
PHIL 400 (Ethics Seminar). I majored in philosophy in college and loved a good heated discussion about good/bad, yes/no, right/wrong because the answer is never just any of those things.
If there was a soundtrack to your Kenyon experience, what song would be on repeat?
Something scored by Ramin Djawadi, or Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor. There is not a single emotion of the spectrum that they would not be able to capture.
Where do you find satisfaction outside of your work?
I enjoy creative outlets like making my own art. I like to combine seemingly unrelated or mismatched things into something new and unique.
What is something interesting that you have read recently?
“Never Whistle At Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology.” I am a self-proclaimed expert in all things spooky and horror, so reading creepy stories from indigenous perspectives and origins feels all the more unsettling and powerful.
What new skill would you like to learn?
I recently inherited some guitars, so probably that. It’s been on my list for a while.
What is the best piece of advice that you've ever been given?
The best piece of advice I have ever received is that more than one thing can be true at a time. Hearing this relieved a lot of stress I felt about making the “right” decision or that something I felt or believed had to be “all in.” If I could give people my best piece of advice, it would be the last few words from a quote by Earl Nightingale, “... the time will pass anyway.” Holding off on doing something because of how long it will take to accomplish should be the least of your worries; that time is going to pass anyway, whether you do the thing or not.
The Kenyon Ten is an occasional question-and-answer feature that highlights students, faculty and staff.