Marquet Houston.
Hawaiʻi Pacific University has announced the appointment of Marquet Houston as the University’s new Director of Housing and Residence Life, effective July 6.
Houston brings a strong background in housing and residence life, supporting residential programming, student engagement, and community development initiatives, and has worked across a range of higher education settings, including universities serving diverse and underserved student populations. These experiences have shaped his ability to support students holistically and adapt to the needs of different communities. Most recently, he served as Associate Director of Residential Engagement at Simmons University in Boston.
Houston’s path into housing and residence life began during his undergraduate years at Barry University. As a first-year student, he served as a hall senator for the Residence Hall Association, supporting student advocacy and community engagement. By his second year, he was selected as a resident assistant and was active in campus life, including holding roles as cheer team captain and president of the Campus Activities Board. He has since coached college cheerleading and also continued participating in competitive cheerleading before retiring in 2025. Combined, these roles helped shape his commitment to building supportive residential communities.
Houston said his interest in joining HPU was shaped by his undergraduate experience.
“Barry University was focused on making sure we graduated with an understanding of how our work impacts our community. That is something I see reflected at Hawaiʻi Pacific, and I wanted to join an institution aligned with those values,” he said.
The Director of Housing and Residence Life role is an important part of strengthening the student experience and fostering meaningful engagement within residential life.
“Marquet’s appointment reflects a strategic investment in the student experience at HPU,” said Robyn Serge, Associate Dean of Students. “We are committed to meeting students where they are, and we see housing as a vital space for building meaningful connections and fostering a strong sense of belonging and community. Marquet brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach that will help strengthen those connections across our residential communities.”
Houston will lead the strategic and day-to-day operations of HPU’s residential communities, oversee student conduct and crisis response efforts, and serve as a visible campus leader focused on strengthening student connection and community within the residential experience.
Houston emphasized the central role that residential life plays in shaping student success. He described housing as an experience rooted in connection, where students benefit academically and personally through stronger relationships and a sense of support.
“For me, the purpose of the housing experience is to ensure that community becomes the focus of the college experience,” he said. “And making sure that students understand how community plays a role in their success.”
He described a strong residential community as one where students actively support one another and hold each other accountable. He also emphasized the importance of honest and open communication among students in residential communities.
“Be honest with your roommate about the challenges you’re having, and be honest with your neighbors about what’s going on in a way that brings them into the conversation rather than pushing them away,” he said.
Houston earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Barry University and is near completing a second master’s degree in gender and cultural studies at Simmons University. He is also active in the field through his work with ACUHO-I, the Association of College and University Housing Officers International, where he serves as a co-chair for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
He also brings a broad personal perspective shaped by his experiences growing up in a military family and living in communities across the United States, including California and several states in the Southeast and East, as well as Japan.
“I learned very early to have an appreciation for different cultures and different experiences in life,” he said.
In his new role, Houston’s initial priorities include understanding HPU’s culture, ensuring staff are well trained and resourced to support students, and continuing to build a residential experience where students see campus housing as a place to call home.
“I want students to see housing as a place to come home to, not just a place they are required to live,” he said. “I want it to be a part of their positive experience and something they remember when they look back at their time at HPU.”
Houston also expressed enthusiasm about joining HPU and becoming part of a new community.
“I’m excited to be in a new space, to learn more about Hawaiian culture, and to apply what I’ve learned in my career in a new context,” he said.
