Ozzie Breiner is a lifelong Lehigh Valley resident. He grew up in Bethlehem and attended Muhlenberg College for his bachelor’s degree. He came to Lehigh in 1986 to earn a master’s degree in higher education administration and has worked at the university since then as a member of the housing services staff.
Breiner, who spent more than 30 years at Lehigh, will retire in October of this year.
While studying at Lehigh, Breiner, his high school sweetheart, and now wife lived in the McCrittick-Marshall home. There he worked as a graduate director in the dormitory.
Breiner said she always wanted to work in education and originally planned to become a principal. But he said he changed his mind after coming to Lehigh.
“While working in the Office of the Dean of Students, I realized that working in higher education is a very different kind of life,” Breiner said. “So I decided to make it my career.”
After earning her master’s degree, Breiner remained on the housing team and progressed through the department. He started as an assistant director and then became an associate director before being promoted to his current role in 2004.
Breiner said working in the housing department means being responsible for all buildings and residence halls on campus. Part of his role is to ensure adequate housing for students.
He said that throughout his career, he has seen the university go through many changes related to the use of technology, inclusivity and Greek life.
When Breiner arrived at Lehigh, there were 32 fraternities on the Hill. The housing was owned by the university but operated autonomously until he became director of housing.
Breiner said when these residence halls became university-run, the challenge arose of holding students accountable.
Breiner said he played a key role in the changes implemented on the hill, including housing and maintenance.
During Breiner’s career, increased student enrollment led to the construction of Thayer Park Village, Farrington Square, Singleton House, Hitch House, and Maida House.
As the student population has grown, Breiner said he has noticed a change in Lehigh’s culture. When he first came, he said, the community was much more homogeneous, with most students coming from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
“The Lehigh of today is very different from the Lehigh of the past, in a good way,” Breiner said. “We’re certainly more inclusive than we were back then, and it’s a much more welcoming place for all students.”
Interactions between students and staff have also evolved over time. Breiner said the rise of technology has reduced personal interactions between Lehigh housing and students. He said this makes the experience between staff and students less engaging and personal.
“This office was always jammed with students doing business with us because they had to submit forms or sign things,” Breiner said. “Everything is done electronically now.
When Breiner first started, all processes, including pairing first-year roommates, were completed manually.
According to him, at the time, dormitory staff would sit in rooms where students wrote their boarding preferences on index cards, and then line them up and connect them.
The housing lottery was also held in person. She said Housing Services will host an open house for students to explore housing options, after which students will gather in the Packard Lab and receive a lottery number (Breiner will call) to select the room of their choice. He said he would have to wait.
“Students are now sitting in their rooms, going online, looking at options and floor plans and making choices from the comfort of their rooms,” Breiner said.
While Lehigh has undergone many changes over the years, Breiner said the community within the housing department has remained consistent, with most staff working together under his leadership for 15 to 30 years. he said.
Mary Kay Baker, director of conference services, hired Breiner and said his acumen is valued by the staff.
“People listen to him and know that if (Breiner) says it and thinks it’s a good idea, there’s a good chance it is,” Baker said. Ta.
Laura Bachman, assistant director of conference services, said Breiner’s ability to retain staff is a testament to his leadership because people want to stay and work with him.
Bachman said the reason his staff love their jobs the most is because they come to work with their families every day.
“We do a lot here, but we also do a lot outside of the office,” Bachmann said.
They celebrate milestone birthdays together, attend each other’s weddings, and participate in holiday gift exchanges. Bachmann said each year he re-gifts one frame filled with pictures of Breiner.
Baker said Breiner fostered a sense of community over the years by bringing energy to the office. He does it through jokes and stories.
Chris Otti, senior associate director of housing, said he has worked for Breiner for 10 years and his staff always feels safe knowing he is there.
Ottie said Breiner’s extensive knowledge of Lehigh and credibility have made him a highly respected coach.
He said housing staff will miss Breiner greatly and are already noticing the empty space he left behind and the quietness of the office without him.
“Mr. Breiner always knew what to say and do when it came to a crisis or something his staff needed help with,” Otti said.
