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Capstone On-Campus Management (COCM) is proud to announce this year’s Womxn’s Alliance Award for Leadership recipient, Vallyn Merrick. Award recipients are higher education leaders in the student housing profession and beyond, who prioritize educating and engaging with other womxn leaders nationwide. This award recognizes an individual who cultivates connections for womxn, navigates barriers through education & empowerment, supports womxn and celebrates the contributions, challenges, and success of womxn.
Vallyn Merrick is a regional manager at COCM and has over 15 years of experience in business management and residential life. In her current role, Vallyn manages 16 residential buildings across 6 universities. Prior to this position she worked as Director of Affiliated Housing at Bowie State University, Director of Housing at Coppin State University, and Community Director at Howard University. In her roles she has enhanced business opportunities with current clients and assisted with the development of the Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community at Bowie State University. She is a proven leader with experience in both supervisory and team-oriented roles and stands out in her ability to navigate campus environments, tailor leadership styles and coach staff members to meet the needs of varying facilities.
Director of Housing Operations at Norfolk State University, Mecca Marsh, commented, “As one of the few womxn of color in leadership at COCM, Vallyn Merrick embodies this award. Vallyn is a woman who demonstrates exemplary leadership and has made significant contributions to her students, her team, the client, and the company. She has not only earned the respect of her superiors to rise as a regional manager and role model, but she has also earned the admiration of her peers. She empowers and supports other women in her workplace. She emphasizes building honest relationships, values input, has the mindset of an entrepreneur, and leads by example. She is changing the landscape in which women serve. She is also a woman who uses her voice to raise the bar for black women to be seen, heard, and valued. She is a role model and advocate for change. Her work is respected and recognized.”
Another colleague, Rafael Cordwell the Director of Affiliated Housing at Towson Millennium Hall, Paca and Tubman Houses, added, “Vallyn is a strong advocate for women within COCM. She is constantly encouraging the women of our company to challenge themselves by developing new relationships, trying new professional developments, and stepping into their greatness. Vallyn serves as a great mentor to women of color by encouraging them, coaching them, advocating for them, and recognizing their talents and skills.”
The COCM Womxn’s Alliance will continue to present the Womxn’s Leadership award annually to a member of the higher education community. COCM works with 35 campuses filled with talented, intelligent, and inspiring womxn. The Alliance looks forward to recognizing womxn who live the goals of the Alliance in their own community and for their students.
