Elevating the campus experience

In the bustling world of academia, where the spotlight often shines on faculty and students, there exists a group of unsung heroes at Lynn University … Campus Operations. The team—consisting of mail services, engineering, housekeeping, grounds and transportation—works tirelessly behind the scenes, striving to transform every facet of the campus experience into something extraordinary for faculty, staff, students and guests. Thanks to years of work experience providing quality service and new leadership from the hospitality industry, Campus Operations has transformed into one cohesive team, bringing a culture of service and innovation to the forefront.

A native of France and hospitality veteran, Kristell Lowe, vice president for campus operations, set her sights on improving every aspect of campus operations since her arrival at Lynn in 2022. Drawing from her background in the hospitality industry, Lowe recognized the need to foster a culture of service at the university. Lowe's journey in the United States began in 2005 when she worked as a butler in New York City. Through the years, she acquired invaluable luxury hotel management experience in Accor Hotels located in Paris, St. Regis in New York City, Carillon Miami Wellness Resort and the W South Beach in Miami Beach.

Lowe's success and experience in servicing others allow her to nurture a team at Lynn that delivers the same excellence she was accustomed to providing throughout her career—to this day, it remains a cornerstone of her leadership prowess. Lowe's passion for service is evident when she speaks about her team and their level of commitment to the university: "Tallying up the years of service in operations, it's over 820 years! People love Lynn and don't want to leave."

Every department that makes up the campus operations team is dedicated to making Lynn a better experience. Mover supervisor Jeff Rozier and warehouse supervisor Breon Henley always go the extra mile. "The amount of work those two men do … I've never seen anything like it," said Lowe. "If something needs to be done, I know that it will be taken care of." Both employees invest tremendously in the value of their work, ensuring every event is thoroughly executed. "Wherever a Lynn mover is needed, we are there," said Rozier. "I love being a Lynn employee—you are treated like family," said Rozier.

Logistics Manager Michael Clyburn works consistently to manage Lynn's transportation fleet of over 30 vehicles. In addition, he coordinates internal and external transportation for all university business-based transportation needs. "What's nice about Lynn is that we are always trying to improve on how we do things," said Clyburn. “We are a team of problem-solvers, always looking forward and striving to excel." Clyburn is motivated to continue making Lynn's transportation operations even better in years to come.

One of the standout accomplishments of the campus operations team has been the overall improvements and innovation in campus infrastructure. Lowe hired Jean Gonzalez, director of engineering, who also brings to Lynn a wealth of knowledge from the hotel industry.

"The skillsets of our engineers are remarkable; they want to continue to learn and grow," said Lowe. "They are always pursuing more education and certifications, and Lynn supports them along the way. We are proud of them and we value what they bring to the institution." The engineering team works together to treat students, faculty and staff with the same respect as hotel guests. For them, it's about maintaining a culture of service.

Although the team has come a long way, they continuously strive to improve in everything they do. Feedback has been an increasingly important component in determining future goals and priorities for the university. "Feedback is a gift; we like to read what people are saying," said Lowe. "I read every single satisfaction survey and every single comment. During my first week at Lynn, I printed the entire quality of life survey that our students take in April of each year. This has been my blueprint to understand what we do well and where we fall short. This document is still on my desk, and I revisit it weekly. We track and celebrate our accomplishments as we check things off the list of improvements that our students stated they wanted to see from us. We have made a lot of progress and will keep going."

With events in full swing at Lynn, the team continues to work around the clock to ensure all aspects of campus life are running smoothly. Additionally, Campus Operations played a pivotal role in ensuring an exceptional experience for the opening of the Snyder Center for Health and Wellness.

Although this team's work may be behind the scenes, their level of excellence has not gone unnoticed. Whether it's the work of groundskeepers on Lynn's beautifully pristine landscape, the consistency displayed by housekeepers across every building on campus, or the daily logistics to keep university transportation safe, every member of the Campus Operations team provides an example of how dedication, innovation and a culture of service can make a profound impact.