Rabia Khan Harvey

About

Department/School/Division: Office of the Dean of Students
Campus: Lake Shore Campus
Years at Loyola: 8

What is your favorite thing about working at Loyola?
All of the many ways that Loyola faculty and staff work to build meaningful relationships with our students. This includes tending to their social, educational, spiritual, physical, and personal needs. We truly value each student that attends Loyola and give our very best in helping them find and achieve success here! 

What is your most memorable achievement as a Loyola employee?
Most recently, I had a small part, as the deputy Title IX coordinator, in helping shift Loyola's culture to increase student reports of gender-based violence. This effort could not have been possible without the support from the University's administration and leadership. Additionally, with a small team of dedicated professionals, our institution was recently recognized by Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General and alumna of Loyola University Chicago, for leading the way when it comes to Title IX. Due to our efforts, Madigan's office requested that I serve on a professional panel at a university summit, attended by over 200 professionals in higher education and law enforcement, this past March 2015 to share strategies and best practices for campus sexual violence prevention and responses. It was such an honor to represent Loyola at a state level and share our Title IX best practices with colleagues who participated in this summit.

What does Loyola's mission mean to you?
Anytime I speak about Loyola to people who do not know much about our institution, I always circle back to our mission. It is an incredibly valuable tool to not only guide how we operate as a campus but, it serves as a tool to guide us to become better people for others. The vast majority of people at Loyola really believe in our mission—which at the core guides us to demonstrate responsibility and lifelong commitment to transform our world so that it is more just and humane. It truly amazes me that Loyola holds its promise and inspires so many of us to live out our mission statement every chance we get!

What motivates you to succeed each and every day?
My number one motivation is to serve God. I have been given so much in life from leadership opportunities, to beautiful friendships, to an incredible mother who sacrificed so much for my success, to a loving husband, two irresistible children, my education, my home, my health—the list goes on and on. I am grateful to see another day, to make the most of opportunities to bring about positive change, to inspiring others, to be among some of the most brilliant minds at Loyola, to personally grow, to deepen my spirituality, to learn from diverse perspectives, to mentoring people I cherish and being mentored myself...Life is so precious and I don’t take a single day for granted—this is my motivation to succeed.

Tell us how you show your Rambler pride. 
Everyone in my personal and professional life knows how much I love Loyola, maroon and gold runs through my veins! One way I show my Rambler pride is through social media. I try to regularly promote major University events and highlight some of our greatest achievements on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I've also proudly served on University committees such as Family Weekend, University Staff Council, Arch Madness, and Weekend of Excellence that promote community and our love for Loyola. I also try to regularly volunteer for major university events such as graduation ceremonies and athletic events. As a volunteer staff mentor for undergraduate women of color or as a formal mentor to a new colleague, I thoroughly enjoy sharing my admiration for Loyola with my mentees. And, I proudly advise Maroon & Gold Society! So for me, showing my Rambler pride is not just what I wear, it's what I say and how I show up. In other words, I love Loyola and you’ll know right away! 

Tell us something most people at Loyola would be surprised to know about you. 
I developed a passion for running by working among Loyola colleagues who regularly trained for races. And, because of them, they inspired me to run the Chicago Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon five years ago, when my son was only six-months old and I ran my first 15K when my daughter was only five-months old. I don't ever intend to stop running but signing up for races definitely keeps me motivated (and accountable). I have my Loyola colleagues to thank for keeping me physically healthy!