At NEIA, the residential life program plays an essential role in shaping the students’ experience both inside and outside the classroom. Under the leadership of Mackenzie Borst, NEIA’s Director of Residential Life, the program is designed to foster a sense of community, inclusivity, and personal growth. From mentoring students to creating a home-like environment, Borst’s journey from teaching music to working in residential life has helped expand NEIA’s residential life program.
Borst’s Path to NEIA
Borst’s path to NEIA has been anything but traditional. Originally from Michigan, Borst began his career as an educator, teaching kindergarten through eighth-grade music. “I started my professional journey in Michigan as an educator,” Borst recalls. “I taught elementary music, middle school band, and middle school choir for five years. I really loved doing that.”
However, after a brief stint working at an eye doctor’s office, Borst returned to education, this time at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, where he began working in residence life. “I worked a little bit of residential life in college as an RA, but that’s very different from a boarding school,” Borst explains. It was at this school, which has a 120-year history, that Borst discovered his passion for the relational side of education. “I really enjoyed more of the relational aspect of education,” he says, noting that he wanted to move away from classroom instruction and focus more on building relationships with students.
Borst went on to work in residential life at Interlochen, however, the isolation of the remote location led him to seek a change. After learning about NEA’s dynamic approach and flexibility, he was excited by the opportunity to contribute to something new. “The idea of NEIA and the excitement that a young school brings is really exciting,” he says. “Being able to help start something and help start traditions… that was really exciting.”
NEIA’s Residential Life Program
Borst quickly found that NEIA’s residential life program stood out not only for its inclusivity but also for its adaptability. When asked about what makes NEIA’s residential life program unique, Borst emphasizes the school’s youth and openness to change. “Part of what makes our boarding community unique is the fact that we are young and have the flexibility to change and mold things,” Borst explains. “We get feedback from our students and say, ‘Okay, this does make sense. How can we do this? How can we do things differently?’”
This flexibility allows NEIA’s residential life program to offer a truly student-centered experience. “We have the ability to get feedback from our students, and how can we do things better? How can we make this more inclusive?” Borst adds. One of the most significant aspects of this inclusivity is NEIA’s genderless housing model. “We currently have our housing model set up as a genderless housing,” Borst says. “That’s something that came organically, and it lends itself to our inclusivity.”
Borst points to the unspoken normalization of gender-neutral bathrooms as a prime example of NEIA’s inclusive culture. “Nobody mentioned it. It was just so normal,” he says. “It was just, ‘These are the bathrooms,’ and that was it. I think that really bleeds into the residential life community as well.”
In addition to inclusivity, Borst highlights the diversity that is woven into the fabric of NEIA’s residential life. “Even with the small size of our boarding community, we are diverse,” Borst says. “We bring a lot of different backgrounds and cultures, which is really great because even at some larger boarding schools, you don’t have that.”
A Home Away From Home for International Students
International students, who often face the challenge of missing home, are a critical focus of NEIA’s residential life program. According to Borst, NEIA strives to provide a sense of home for these students, even though they are far from their families and familiar surroundings. “It is a challenge, and we are continuously looking at how we can improve and what we can do differently,” Borst acknowledges.
Borst explains that the small community size makes it easier to make students feel at home. “As we are smaller, it is easier to create a little bit more of that community feel, a little bit more of that home feel,” Borst explains. This sense of belonging is further reinforced by the inclusive nature of the student body. “Our students invite others in to sit with them at dinner,” Borst says. “The reason that the tables are the way they are right now in the hub is because our students would push the tables together anyway. We just pushed the tables together and said, ‘Great. If you’re going to do this, let’s make it official.’”
The staff also plays an integral role in ensuring students feel seen and supported. “Our house parents are really instrumental in making sure that everybody is seen and greeted,” Borst says. “They interact with the students, making sure that everybody has a smile on their face and feels welcome.”
Borst notes that food also plays a significant role in making international students feel at home. “We want to make sure we have food that makes them feel comfortable and reminds them of home,” he says. He explains the example of adding a rice cooker to the kitchen to accommodate the dietary preferences of students from cultures where rice is a staple.
A Typical Day in Residential Life
A day in NEIA’s residential life program is structured but also provides students with flexibility and time to unwind. According to Borst, the day begins with a check-in at 8:00 a.m. before the start of classes at 8:30. This time ensures that students are up and ready for the day ahead. “We want to make sure they have the chance to get breakfast and are ready for the day,” Borst says. The school day is followed by after-school activities, sports, or clubs, which allow students to engage in their interests before having a break from 4:30 to 5:30.
Dinner in the Hub is a communal time where students check in with a house parent and enjoy a meal together. “From 5:30 to 6:30, they have dinner. After dinner, they’re assigned a cleaning crew to either clean up the Hub or the student lounges,” Borst explains.
In the evenings, students have “productive hour” from 7:00 to 8:00, where they work on learning extensions, projects, or personal interests. “The idea is that we have an hour set aside for them to be productive,” Borst says. For the older students, the productive hour can take place in their rooms, where a house parent checks in to ensure they stay on task.
Weekends are designed to offer students opportunities for both relaxation and exploration. “Fridays don’t have after-school activities, so their day is done at 3:00. But then they still have dinner at 5:30 to 6:30, and we might run loops,” Borst explains. “Loops are if students need to go to the grocery store or explore the area. We’ll grab a 14-passenger van and head out.”
Looking Ahead
Borst is optimistic about the future of NEIA’s residential life program, especially as the school continues to grow. “We want to continue to innovate and grow in our understanding of how to support all our students, both domestic and international,” he says. “We are learning, and we will continue to grow stronger.”
At NEIA, residential life is not just about giving students a place to stay; it’s about creating a dynamic, inclusive, and supportive environment where all students feel at home. The program continues to evolve, embracing change and fostering a deep sense of belonging for every student, all with the help of Mackenzie and the residential life staff.
